AdventureFit check
Is Desert of Vice worth it for you?
We tell you who should skip it, too.
Play it if you…
Good fit- Horror fans who want a mystery played through typed commands
- Adventure players interested in investigating unusual characters in an isolated setting
- Players drawn to surrealist literature and 20th-century weird fiction
Skip it if you…
Saves you a refund- Players who want direct movement or combat may bounce off the typed-command interaction system.
- Players seeking one fixed ending may not fit a story whose conclusions depend on choices.
- Players looking for an action-focused game may find the text-adventure structure unsuitable.
Our take on Desert of Vice
The bounce point is the command system: every interaction requires a typed keyboard entry. Anyone expecting to act through direct movement or standard action controls will encounter that requirement immediately, before the investigation can proceed.
What is Desert of Vice?
Investigate a murder after awakening without memories in a strange desert.
The story takes place in an isolated, eerie town where interactions with unusual characters reveal clues about who murdered the player character and why. Desert of Vice is a horror text adventure controlled by keyboard input: each interaction is made by typing a command and observing what happens. The investigation follows a story-rich adventure structure, with endings that depend on choices made during play. The game includes a soundtrack created for it and draws inspiration from surrealist literature and weird fiction from the 20th century. Progress centers on exploring the town, entering commands, meeting its cast, and working out the circumstances of the murder.
How Desert of Vice plays
- 01Typed Text Controls
- Each interaction is performed by entering a desired command with the keyboard.
- 02Choice-Dependent Endings
- The conclusion changes according to decisions made during the story.
- 03Isolated Town Mystery
- The murder investigation unfolds in a strange desert town populated by unusual characters.
- 04Tailor-Made Soundtrack
- The adventure includes a soundtrack made specifically for the game.
Games like Desert of Vice
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SiChris ProductionsFor:Interactive-fiction fans who want typed-command investigationsSkip if:Players seeking action-focused gameplay rather than typed commands and text-based problem solving
AdventureAnchorhead
Michael GentryFor:Fans of classic text adventures who prefer typed commands over menusSkip if:Players seeking graphics-led exploration or point-and-click interaction
AdventureSnail Trek - Chapter 2: A Snail Of Two Worlds
Phil FortierFor:Adventure players who enjoy entering text commands to investigate and interactSkip if:Players seeking a long, expansive adventure may find the roughly 20-minute format too briefPicked by overlapping fit notes and genres, not an editorial comparison.
Desert of Vice: platforms & release
Is Desert of Vice worth it?
It is worth it if: horror fans who want a mystery played through typed commands. Skip it if: players who want direct movement or combat may bounce off the typed-command interaction system.
Where can I download Desert of Vice?
Use the Download Now button on this page: it opens Desert of Vice's store page, where you can choose how to get it.
What platforms is Desert of Vice on?
Windows and macOS.
