Interactive Fiction
Interactive, text-based stories
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Ok, I admit this is more ‘hobby’ than work, so why include it? Well, I do think that a fundamental part of design and marketing is finding ways to tell a story; creating a clear narrative to make the brand, the product, and the message stand out – and fiction is one of the most powerful forms of ‘story’.
I discovered the rather niche genre of ‘Interactive Fiction’ during the pandemic, and I’m fascinated by the possibilities it offers. Interactive Fiction is a medium somewhere between a book and something more interactive, like a video game. Think of it as the next step from the old ‘choose your own adventure’ game books that were popular in the 90s – but using modern, browser-based tools. Each story is a combination of creative writing, understanding both UI and UX to aid the player, and also the use of JavaScript and CSS to ensure it works well, no matter the device.
DETRITUS
My most recent work deals with subjects as diverse as identity, corporate green-washing, and the rise of AI – all contained within a Sci-Fi mystery. It recently won the 2025 Interactive Fiction Competition – the largest and most prestigious award for the medium – coming in first place from 85 entries submitted by authors from around the world. It also won: Outstanding Plot and Outstanding Sci-fi Story in the 2025 IFDB Awards.
ECHOES
This is an anthology of three very different stories that interlink in unexpected ways. It was submitted to the 2025 ‘Spring Thing’ Interactive Fiction competition and won these Audience Awards: Best Story, Best Humour, and Best Visuals.
THE DEN
A complete re-imagining of the story of Adam and Eve and their escape from Eden, told as a ‘young adult’ tale of teenagers escaping from a controlling entity known as ‘Father’. Readers play as both Adam and Eve, collaborating to solve the mysteries of ‘The Den’. It came in second place in the 2024 IFComp Awards and also received: Outstanding Twine Game, Outstanding Plot, and Outstanding Multimedia Experience in the 2024 IFDB Awards.
THE KUOLEMA
A modern-day thriller set on a mysterious abandoned ship discovered drifting in the South China Sea. This game uses extensive images to set the scene, and it was a fantastic way to experiment with the possibilities of using AI image generation tools. It won these Audience Awards: Best Graphics, Best Thriller, and Best UI – in the 2024 ‘Spring Thing’ Interactive Fiction competition.