What three games by Choice of Games do you think deserve a round of recognition? What games that you loved are on this list…but shouldn’t? Vote it up and let people know what they should be playing.
- A Squire’s Tale
- Asteroid Run: No Questions Asked
- Atlantis Academy
- Choice of Broadsides: HMS Foraker
- Cliffhanger: Challenger of Tomorrow
- Death Collector
- Demon Mark: A Russian Saga
- Drag Star
- Elite Status
- Escape from Death
- Fielder’s Choice
- For Rent: Haunted House
- Gilded Rails
- In the Service of Mrs. Claus
- Light Years Apart
- Nikola Tesla: War of the Currents
- NOLA is Burning
- Pugmire: Treasure of the Sea Dogs
- Ratings War
- Sky Pirates of Actorius
- Skystrike: Wings of Justice
- Teahouse of the Gods
- The Daring Mermaid Expedition
- The ORPHEUS Ruse
- The Play’s the Thing
- To the City of the Gods
- Treasure Seekers of Lady Luck
- T-Rex Time Machine
- Trials of the Thief-Taker
- Undercover Agent
- Witchcraft U
- Wraiths of SENTINEL
- Yeti’s Parole Officer
- Zip!
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Oof, this was a difficult choice. So many titles on here I’m really sorry to see make this list.
I had to vote for The Play’s the Thing, which is unequivocally one of my all-time favorites. It’s packed with things I love, first and foremost the opportunity to change the world through writing and storytelling. I promise it’s worth reading even if you’re not a big nerd like me who reads early modern English literature for fun. There’s a curse and a tyrannical ruler and an adorable little dog and a murder and cool fashion statements. Also, you can get an ending where you die heroically and continue to hang around the theatre as a ghost.
Teahouse of the Gods is a work of true originality. I suppose it’s only natural it wasn’t everyone’s (ahem) cup of tea - for much of my first playthrough I wasn’t sure how I felt about it either - but ultimately I came down hard on the side of loving it. It’s a study in culture shock and mythology and romance that’s not just fanservice, and the author is a really cool person. I am glad that there are people out there daring to write things like this. I am deeply grateful that CoG takes a chance on publishing things like this.
To the City of the Clouds is another one that’s probably not for everyone, but deserves a lot more love than it gets. It’s a satire of academic field research, mordant yet not without fondness, so readers who go in looking for straight-up Indiana Jones adventure are likely to be disappointed (although once you’ve submitted your grant proposal, bought your gear, and decided whether you’re more a privileged savior or cultural tourist at heart, you do in fact get to spend some time dodging deathtraps in Incan tombs that may or may not be literally cursed). I’ve been a fan since its release back in 2012, and last year I had the privilege of interviewing the author for ChoiceBeat, which just deepened my appreciation for what a thoughtfully constructed game this is, especially for a writer with no IF experience writing when CoG was still figuring out what worked.
Since the results of this annual survey have historically been used to determine five underrated games to go on sale for a week, I’ll round out my own personal top five with Asteroid Run and Atlantis Academy.
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No Pugmire vote from PistachioPug? I’m surprised.
I expected to vote for Weyrwood this year too, since it’s one of my favourite COG games, so I’m somewhat happy for it not being in this list since it means it sold better than in other years (I believe?). It has one of the most original and vivid atmospheres out there, at least for me.
For the list of this year I agree with @AletheiaKnights, The Play’s the Thing and Teahouse of the Gods are definitely worth a shot if you’re on the fence, especially the former, since it would appeal to a broader audience.
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I too was pleased that Weyrwood seems to have slid off this list! I think I’ve voted for it most years this poll has happened.
My top three:
- Nikola Tesla: War of the Currents is an underrated gem full of personality, ambition, and melancholy.
- The Play’s The Thing is a great magical and theatrical romp.
- And Asteroid Run is a brilliant space adventure perfect for fans of Firefly and The Expanse.
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