The Interface Drama Master List
Interface dramas are games that tell an immersive story through software and app interfaces. They are commonly called "desktop simulators" or "UI games" but I've found these labels to be either too prescriptive or too general to describe this emergent genre. And so, I'm making a master list of interface dramas here for people to play and hopefully build support for this unique type of game.
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Games are in alphabetical order. Use the buttons below to filter by theme. Last updated October 24th, 2023.
Blooming Panic
Depressed day-in and day-out from a draining corporate job, you become invested in a fantasy webnovel and find a mysterious link to a fan server. Everyone is warm and welcoming, but four members take a special interest in you!
(itch.io)
emily is away (series)
Emily is Away is an interactive story. Message your friends, surf the web and choose your path through this branching narrative. The series contains three games: emily is away, emily is away too, and emily is away <3.
emily is away (itch.io | Steam)
INFINITE RED - The Day the Earth Stood Still
A lost game found by a fan community unlocks more mysteries than it answers.
(Website)
Kingsway
Kingsway is the #1 operating system for daily tasks such as skeleton smashing and loot-organizing. Trouble sorting through all your potions and swords? Don't worry! Kingsway can help you manage, and with an easy to use interface you'll have time leftover for a peaceful stroll through the underworld.
(Steam)
Last Call BBS
Boot up your Z5 Powerlance and dial into Last Call BBS, the last game from Zachtronics! The Barkeep’s loaded up his retro computer with a full set of puzzle games for you to download and play. No need to worry about copy protection, they’re all fully cracked and ready to enjoy!
Lifeline (series)
Taylor just survived a crash landing in a barren desert on an alien moon. Scared, cold, and alone, your choices are the only thing keeping Taylor alive... but for how long? The series contains four games, Lifeline, Lifeline: Silent Night, Lifeline: Halfway to Infinity, and Lifeline: Beside You in Time.
Lifeline: Silent Night (iOS | Android)
Midnight Protocol
Midnight Protocol is a tactical narrative-driven RPG with unique keyboard-only controls. Hack into servers, beat security systems and discover encrypted secrets while you try to find answers to why and how you got doxxed.
(Steam)
normal_fantasies.exe
Join Lynette Johnson as she enjoys the AI Girlfriend Add-On, & discovers new things about her romantic & sexual desires while escaping a harsh reality.
(itch.io)
Secret Little Haven
An adventure game about old computers, community, creativity, fandom, gender, and the internet. Alex Cole is a teenage trans girl in 1999 who has yet to figure herself out. She spends much of her free time on the internet, browsing a fan forum for her favorite magical girl show, and chatting with her friends.
SIMULACRA (series)
An interactive horror experience of exploring a missing woman’s phone. Piece the truth together by going through the phone messages, videos, and social media. The series contains three games, SIMULACRA, SIMULACRA 2, SIMULACRA 3.
Tachygram
A game about teens posting. Inspired by Hypnospace Outlaw and created entirely in cohost posts.
(Website)
VIDEOVERSE
Relive the days of past social gaming networks and dive into this fictional video game era, where the "Kinmoku Shark" gaming system and its online social network 'Videoverse' were still popular...
(Steam)
What Isn't Saved (will be lost)
When her girlfriend Sara dies, Zoe uses her experimental technology to save her--but there isn't enough room to save all of Sara's memories. You must choose which ones will be saved, and which ones will be lost.
(itch.io)
