Text-based Game Resources
Resources for playing and creating text-based games, including multi-user (MU*) codebases, clients, guides, and references for players and developers alike.
What’s here
Section titled “What’s here”- Playing: Getting Started, Finding a Game, MU* Clients
- Developing: Codebases, Protocols, Open Source Projects, Hosting Services, Accessibility
- Building & Marketing: World Building, Marketing & Retention, Recommended Reading
- Archives: Classic books, magazines, and developer writings from MUD history.
- Interactive Fiction: Links to resources for single-player text games.
How to contribute
Section titled “How to contribute”Additions and corrections from the community are welcome! Feel free to use the Submit a Resource form on Writing Games, or if it’s easier, submit an issue or PR on GitHub.
Frequently Asked Questions
Section titled “Frequently Asked Questions”What is a MUD, MUSH, or MOO?
Section titled “What is a MUD, MUSH, or MOO?”A MUD (Multi-User Dungeon), MUSH (Multi-User Shared Hallucination), and MOO (MUD, Object-Oriented) are types of text-based multiplayer online games. MUDs typically focus on combat and exploration, while MUSHes and MOOs emphasize collaborative storytelling and roleplay. Each has its own community and gameplay style. For more background, check out the Getting Started page.
Where can I find a MUD to play?
Section titled “Where can I find a MUD to play?”The Finding a Game page lists directories like AresCentral, Grapevine, MUDStats, and MUDVault, plus server stats and crawlers. MUDVault and Grapevine are solid starting points for beginners.
What’s the best MUD client for beginners?
Section titled “What’s the best MUD client for beginners?”It depends on your platform - the MU* Clients page lists options for every OS, with notes on accessibility, configurability, and what each is known for. Mudlet is a popular cross-platform option. Beginners using Windows may prefer MUSHclient to start.
Can I play MUDs on my phone?
Section titled “Can I play MUDs on my phone?”Yes. The MU* Clients page has a dedicated Mobile apps section (Fado for Android, MUDBasher and MUDlark for iOS, and others). You can also use a browser-based client like LociTerm or MudForge from your phone’s browser.
What are some resources for learning to code or build MUDs?
Section titled “What are some resources for learning to code or build MUDs?”The Codebases page lists game engines along with their primary coding languages. For protocols and technical specs, see Protocols. For learning to build worlds rather than write engine code, see World Building.
If you actually want to make a single-player text game (not a persistent, multiplayer style game), see Interactive Fiction.
How do I market my MUD to attract players?
Section titled “How do I market my MUD to attract players?”The Marketing & Retention page offers some advice on marketing your game, retaining players, improving help systems, and rewarding players for typo reports.
What if I need help with accessibility in my game?
Section titled “What if I need help with accessibility in my game?”Accessibility has its own page, with tools like the Screen Reader Preview Tool and lessons from real games (Alter Epoch, Legends of the Jedi, EmpireMUD).
Are there free hosting options for my MUD?
Section titled “Are there free hosting options for my MUD?”Yes - Vineyard.haus offers free or pay-what-you-can hosting. The Hosting Services page also covers paid options and cloud providers people have had success with.
How do I stay connected with the MUD community?
Section titled “How do I stay connected with the MUD community?”The Getting Started page has a “Community hub” section linking to the MUD Community Discord, the r/MUD subreddit, and the Brand MU Day forums, among others.