“They emerge from the gray, purgatorial gloom like two impossible beacons in a fog, one draped in darkness, the other glowing bright.”
chiaroscuro is a short, emotional interactive fiction story about a young artist’s search for identity and meaning.
Step into the shoes of Perce, an American student starving for inspiration, as she explores the magical world of modern-day Rome. Keep your eye open for subjects to sketch—you never know where you might find your muse—and choose your companions wisely. Strange creatures roam the streets of the Eternal City, and there’s no telling who, or what, you might bump into…
“The dangers of the light felt more surprising and threatening than the dangers of the dark. . . The imagery of Rome was also lovely, and one comes away with a strong sense of place.”
—Emily Short, Creative Director at Failbetter Games
Developed in Twine, this introspective IF game features a branching, choice-based low fantasy narrative and five distinct possible endings—some happier than others. It is also 100% free to play.
- Choose Perce’s path—dark, light, or somewhere in between—and perhaps even bring a bit of color back into her world.
- Make friends (or don’t) with up to three curious individuals of mysterious origin.
- At just 30,000 words, chiaroscuro is a bite-sized interactive fiction game can easily be finished in a single sitting.
“Beautifully written, with dimensional characters that the reader quickly becomes invested in. . . Playing/reading ‘chiaroscuro’ is a thoroughly intriguing, immersive experience; one which I shall return to again and again.”
—Elizabeth MacDuffie, Meat for Tea Editor-in-Chief