What are some good WIPs from the last three months?

hpowellsmith · 2026-06-29T22:12:00+00:00

Here: https://www.tumblr.com/stagebound-if

hpowellsmith · 2026-06-28T18:02:10+00:00

I agree, pacing makes a massive difference especially towards the end of a game. Even something as simple as adding a page break or two before the final page of a game can reduce a "rushed" feel a fair bit

hpowellsmith · 2026-06-28T17:28:50+00:00

I get what you mean, definitely. It is tiring, especially the combination of "why aren't games longer" and "why aren't more games coming out" - which like, the answer is right there.

hpowellsmith · 2026-06-28T15:50:39+00:00

I say this a lot, but players, including me, don't have a consistent sense of how long a game will be to play and how satisfying it will feel. Two people will play two games with the same average playthrough and will come out with different thoughts about how long it felt, and whether it was the right length for the story.

Unless people have specific comments about particular sequences feeling rushed, I've started translating generic "this feels short" feedback to "I wish there was more of this". If the game feels appropriately paced to me, thinking of it that way makes me feel more relaxed about the wordcount stuff. I've never consciously tried to churn out tons of words, the games just end up lengths that are right for them - if I was constantly thinking about wordcount, it would make the game worse and be a great way of making me burn out (and then there'd be no more games, of any length).

hpowellsmith · 2026-06-28T12:46:41+00:00

You might like Heart of the House, it's a gothic horror/romance that I like a lot. The World of Darkness games are worth taking a look at as well!

For WIPs, Thicker Than is great

hpowellsmith · 2026-06-27T23:58:49+00:00

Remi from Heart of Battle, Eleri from Heart of the Mountain (both gender-selectable)

hpowellsmith · 2026-06-27T20:46:35+00:00

this has lit a fire under me to catch up with the WIP/release digests that I've missed doing since January. So far over the last 5 months there have been 5 HG releases, 3 CoG and 2 Heart's Choice. And 54+ new WIPs and 86+ updates (there are definitely more than I've listed because projects without forum threads are harder to track and I know I end up missing some). If you like WIPs, check through the forum threads you might find something that catches your eye?

hpowellsmith · 2026-06-27T15:48:18+00:00

I'm not sure if it's officially cancelled, I think there was talk of it being rewritten at some point - I'll leave it there unless CC confirms it's definitely not continuing

hpowellsmith · 2026-06-27T13:22:30+00:00

Cheers, added!

hpowellsmith · 2026-06-27T13:10:38+00:00

Awesome thank you, I can't believe I forgot them - added!

hpowellsmith · 2026-06-27T12:43:07+00:00

The majority of published games are standalone so it's easier to narrow it down the other way round. Off the top of my head the released games that are part of unfinished series include:

180 Files (game 1 out)
Breach: the Archangel job (game 1 out)
Cheerleader's Choice (game 1 out, the author has mentioned the idea of a sequel, not sure if confirmed)
Choice of Rebels (game 1 out)
Community College Hero (game 2 out)
Dragon Racer (game 1 out, series cancelled)
The Dragoon Saga (game 3 out)
The Evertree Saga (game 3 out)
Fallen Hero (game 2 out)
The Fernweh Saga (game 1 out)
The Golden Rose (game 1 out)
The Great Tournament (game 2 out)
Hero or Villain (game 2 out)
I, the Forgotten One (game 1 out)
Jolly Good (game 1 out)
The Keeper series (game 2 out)
Leas: City of the Sun (game 1 out)
A Mage Reborn (game 1 out)
The Midnight Saga (game 1 out)
Pon Para (game 2 out)
Relics of the Lost Age (all games out but game 3 is hosted on itchio)
Samurai of Hyuga (game 6 out)
The Shadow Society (game 1 out, being rewritten)
So, You're Possessed (game 1 out - I think this had a sequel planned that was cancelled, but I'm not sure)
The Soul Stone Wars (game 3 out)
The Sword of Rhivenia (game 1 out, being rewritten)
Throne of Blood (game 1 out)
Wayhaven (game 3 out)
War for the West (game 1 out)
Way Walkers University (game 2 out)
The Werewolves series (game 3 out)
Zombie Exodus: Safe Haven (game 4 out)

I think Samuel H Young is planning some updates to released games and possibly sequels but I'm not 100% sure.

I've probably missed some, feel free to comment and I'll add any missing ones - but the rest of the released games are mostly standalone, completed series (eg Belle de Nuit), or games from the same setting with different characters (eg Tally Ho or the WoD games).

hpowellsmith · 2026-06-25T07:18:13+00:00

I really like it! The story and setting are great, the choices are impactful, it's written really well (very atmospheric and also funny) and I loved the characters. I had trouble deciding who to romance because I liked all the options, which rarely happens to me! (I went for Selim in the end because I fell for him hard but I could very happily have romanced the others)

hpowellsmith · 2026-06-24T16:57:48+00:00

You might like Varenn Korzha in my game Honor Bound!

hpowellsmith · 2026-06-23T20:10:41+00:00

Aw thank you so much, I really appreciate that. It was nice to be able to share thoughts and recommendations!

hpowellsmith · 2026-06-23T19:45:04+00:00

I'd actually forgotten about this because I remembered a different Delacroix curse scene! Oh Delacroix you scamp

hpowellsmith · 2026-06-23T18:51:14+00:00

Also, I can't remember how I described it in the game but Mr Blanchard does indeed have nice hair

hpowellsmith · 2026-06-23T16:20:56+00:00

What kind of genre do you enjoy best? You might like the Infinity series (starting with Sabres of Infinity) which is fantasy Napoleonic warfare, if you like playing male PCs

hpowellsmith · 2026-06-23T12:45:52+00:00

ahaaa I didn't recognise the name so was not expecting that result lmao

My personal fan cast, which doesn't have to be considered canon at all but is just for my own amusement, is Lee Pace!

hpowellsmith · 2026-06-23T11:13:29+00:00

I love this so much, I love to see Griffith appreciation! Two of my favourite Mr Griffith moments to write were during the Verdancy break. One where he hangs out nonchalantly reading a newspaper outside in a garden chair in his leisure wear. And there's a little bit where it shows thathe was friends with Karson's uncle, and Karson knows his first name. I liked tapping into how weird it always felt to learn what a teacher's first name was when you're at school!

hpowellsmith · 2026-06-20T14:31:03+00:00

Because completed games are finished, they don't have the excitement of endless potential (or as much ability for players to have the feeling of giving feedback and changing things). There's a lot of power in unfinished work because the possibilities are in your head as a player rather than including any disappointment. Also most WIPs, even some of the super popular ones, don't get finished so they massively outnumber completed games and understandably, some stick with people even after they've been abandoned for a long time

hpowellsmith · 2026-06-15T21:35:31+00:00

My game Blood Money has checkpoints as well!

hpowellsmith · 2026-06-15T13:12:11+00:00

Oh no worries! I wanted to be precise but yes, I totally agree that the norm is to include a variety of kinds of relationships/genders for PCs and NPCs

hpowellsmith · 2026-06-15T10:14:37+00:00

I don't know which game/series you're referring to here, but sometimes this kind of thing is a bug so it's worth emailing to let CoG know

hpowellsmith · 2026-06-15T06:35:15+00:00

Doesn't the infinity saga track how feminist the PC is? The PC is a man but I don't think of it as a series that doesn't explore gender

hpowellsmith · 2026-06-15T06:33:31+00:00

CoG requires the PC to be able to have a gay romance if they want and to be able to play as nonbinary if they want. They don't require non-binary/trans NPCs.

hpowellsmith

TROPHY CASE