C:\Users\Kevin\Projects\Abscond>
Abscond
An interactive text-based fiction story made in Twine, built around branching decisions, inventory interactions, and a short sci-fi mystery about waking up in the far future.
./project_summary
Project Overview
Abscond is a short interactive fiction game about a normal life suddenly interrupted by an event that changes the player’s future forever.
Two minutes remain until a new year begins. As the player recalls their normal life, something happens that sends the story into a far-future sci-fi mystery.
The project was inspired by my interest in visual novels and by the idea of waking up far in the future, similar to the setup of Futurama.
./story_systems
Story Systems
Branching Decisions
- Built around player choices and story branches
- Allows the story to shift based on decisions
- Creates a more interactive reading experience
- Supports multiple paths through the narrative
Inventory System
- Includes a working inventory system
- Lets the player collect or track important items
- Connects items to the interactive fiction structure
- Adds light adventure-game mechanics to the story
Visual Novel Influence
- Inspired by visual novel pacing and storytelling
- Focuses on text, choices, and narrative progression
- Uses branching text to create player agency
- Explores a short story format with personal twists
Sci-Fi Mystery
- Starts from an ordinary-life setup
- Quickly shifts into a future-based premise
- Uses mystery as the main hook
- Builds around the question of what happened and why
./opening_hook
Opening Hook
Two minutes remain until a new year begins. As you recall your utterly normal life that you have lived until this point, something happens that changes your future forever.
./design_notes
Design Notes
Choice Structure
The project uses Twine’s passage-based structure to connect story moments, choices, and branching outcomes.
Scope
The game was designed as a short interactive fiction project, keeping the scope focused while still allowing experimentation with inventory and branching.
Personal Twist
Instead of making a traditional visual novel, the project uses a short-form sci-fi premise with my own take on choice-driven storytelling.
./tech_stack