A Dark Room (2013)

This is a free text/ascii adventure/resource manager that is worth at least one playthrough, you can play here. Without being able to fully say much without spoiler this is an amazing game no matter how simple it was. My final score was 53528, I'm not sure how that holds up to other playthroughs but honestly I might even do a second run trying to get the alterative ending. I am not sure how long I played because it is a browser game and I just left it open awhile but it was definitely quite a few hours running even if not always open.

Really good game. I went into it with no idea what to expect, and it really blew my mind when things got started. It is free and can be played at http://adarkroom.doublespeakgames.com/ This game pretty much stole my Sunday afternoon, but I can't say I regret the experience. It is not a deep or complex game. But the way the story unfolds was well done. I'm a sucker for this particular genre though.

For a free browser-based ASCII-art-toting text-based adventure, A Dark Room offers a very satisfying punch, so long as you aren't frightened away by the minimalist introduction. Initially, the game consists of an ominously tight-lipped side bar narrator and a single button which reads "light fire," but as the game progresses, the world around you opens up, plunging you into an extremely memorable and immersive RPG experience. I don't want to say terribly much for fear of spoiling things, but ADR is simply one of the best exploration games you'll find on the market today, whether it's for the excellent, exposition free writing or the way it makes you need to know what further surprises are lying in wait.

The free online version is excellent, if somewhat brief, and you can play it here: http://adarkroom.doublespeakgames.com/

The pay version is significantly different, featuring new items, new events, new mechanics, and two separate endings.