In the December 2021 issue of ev0ke, I discussed and reviewed six video games modeled off the old choose-your-own-adventure/pick-your-path model. These games, produced by companies such as Crazy Maple, Nix Hydra, and Pixelberry, covered a variety of genres and allowed players to choose the gender, ethnicity, and even sexual orientation of their characters.
In the months since, these companies have not only released more games that are Pagan/polytheist-friendly, but I have also discovered new games by other companies. Below, I discuss six more of these games: Crimes of Passion, The Cursed Heart, Isle of Enchantment, Legend of the Sacred Stones, Midnight Carnival, and Robin Hood.
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Crimes of Passion (Choices/Pixelberry) is a twisty-turny murder mystery featuring a tough and intelligent private investigator and an exiled prince who is not the careless playboy he pretends to be. Initially, there is nothing particularly Pagan/polytheist about the story. But just a few chapters in, the player discovers connections between the ritualistic murder, the smuggling of priceless antiquities, and a mysterious Goddess. I haven’t gotten to the end of the story yet, but I am quite intrigued. I can’t wait to see where it goes. [Note: the art above is for promotional purposes. The players can choose among several gender, sex, skin tone, hair, and other options for both main characters.]
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The Cursed Heart (Choices/Pixelberry) is a dark fantasy romance set in an enchanted forest and the court of the fae. At the beginning of the story, your character (again, designed from multiple options) stumbles across the ruler of the Moon Court (again, many options here). What follows is a sensual adventure through the intrigues of the fae court as your character tries to decide where their heart truly belongs, and what price you are willing to pay to achieve your desires.
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Isle of Enchantment (FictIf/Nix Hydra) opens with your character in the library, desperately trying to break through crippling writer’s block. When a handsome man appears and offers to take you on an extraordinary adventure, you readily agree — only to discover that the stranger is a fairy tale character! And the realm he has taken you to is home to even more “fictional” people! Secrets are revealed, villains are battled, hearts are broken and healed, and the world is saved — hopefully.
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Legend of the Sacred Stones (Adventure Escape Mysteries/Haiku) is a fantasy puzzle game set on an isolated, magical island. A strange plague is killing the inhabitants and upsetting the seasons. Playing as Aila, you move from one section of the island to another, from mountain to jungle, through the elements and the seasons, trying to stop Milo in his mad quest to gain control of the four primal Gods. Note that Haiku rates Legend of the Sacred Stones as “beginning” level, meaning the puzzles (many of which center around elements and sigils) are supposed to be easy to solve; or at least easier than the medium and difficult level games. I definitely recommend starting with an easy game such as Legend of the Sacred Stones or Midnight Carnival (featured below) before trying one of the more difficult games. The chapters are also long, so this is not a game to play right before bed.
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Midnight Carnival (Adventure Escape Mysteries/Haiku) is another beginning level puzzle game. This time, you play Maya, a witch who stumbles across a mysterious kidnapping. When a little girl goes missing at a carnival, and Maya detects traces of magic, she decides to step up and help — even if that means exposing the existence of magic to the little girl’s (mundane) uncle. The deeper Maya progresses into the carnival, though, the more sinister magic she uncovers. What’s really going on at the carnival? And why was the little girl kidnapped? Solve the puzzles, collect magic, cast spells, and save the day!
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Robin Hood (Chapters/Crazy Maple Studios) is a fantasy-romance twist on the classic legend. In this game, your play a female Robin Hood, protector of an enchanted Sherwood Forest and the people and beings who call it home. The Forest, and the whole of the land, are threatened by an evil King and his Sheriff. Not even the noble Prince, who loves Robin Hood, may be able to save her and stop his father. The graphics are stunning, the heroes are heroic, and the villains are appropriately villainous.
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Many of these companies have recently released, or are planning to release, even more games that look to be Pagan/polytheist-friendly (such as Into the Mist by FictIf). As such, expect a third follow-up article in a few months.
In the meanwhile, give these games a try! And, if you find any cool games that you want to suggest or recommend, please do so in the comments below.
[Written by Rebecca Buchanan.]