It's official: IFComp 2024 made its entries available for play on Sunday, September 1st. The long-running competition is in its 29th year with plenty of nifty games for you to explore, fall in love with, and more. What makes them unique is that more often than not, they don’t have graphics. It’s a medium fueled by the power of your own imagination.
What’s IFComp?
For those unaware, IFComp stands for the Interactive Fiction Competition. It's the biggest formal competition for IF games (also referred to as text games) with dozens of pieces entered every year. You can think of it as the NBA Finals or "Super Bowl" for IF games, as one member of the community called it. Some authors spend months and even years preparing for this competition.
Why should I play this comp’s games?
So how does this relate to you, dear reader? I'm glad you asked. The main draw of IFComp is having the chance to play some of the coolest games you've never heard of before, all in one place. For example, during last year's comp alone we had games about a bat-shit insane adventure inside an IKEA, Socrates's last night with his wife, Xanthippe, an Egyptian deity murder mystery, a retro spy mission, seeing off your abusive brother's sentient corpse, and doing everything you can to not get kicked in the nuts. Mind you, these are just 6 of the 74 total entries from last year. Who knows what's in store this year?
So I just play these games and that’s it?
But wait- There's more! You can also go beyond just being a silent player and can even review and rate the games you play; just make sure to follow the rules. It's more than just leaving some nice feedback and a number score for the authors. Expressing yourself and sharing your thoughts on what certain games did well or could have improved on is a huge part of what makes this comp so great. Players aren't just passive participants, they're active contributors to the collective knowledge and growth of a community that's been around for decades.
Why IFComp is more than just another competition
No, I'm not kidding when I say decades. A quick look at its history shows that the comp itself started in 1995. It's also worth noting that the community existed* for a good while before it. IFComp isn't just an annual event where a bunch of internet nerds gather and hype each other up.** It's a long-standing tradition run, maintained, and cherished by a community of passionate individuals who love playing, discussing, and sharing some of the most amazing interactive experiences of the 21st century.
* See Graham Nelson's The Craft of Adventure included in the IF Theory Reader, Kindle edition.
** I mean, it kinda is, but that's beside the point.
Where can I try some of the entries?
Hit up the IFComp site and check out what the IF community has in store this year!
Justin's many things: Memer, designer, developer, game maker, Tarot reader, writer, and more. Now he's a keyboard monkey for Final Arc (don't tell them he said that). Website: heyjustinkim.com
