Alabaster

About

Alabaster is a text-based adventure where your choices shape a dark fairy tale. You navigate a forest torn between two conflicting demands: return a queen’s heart in a box or honor a promise to her stepdaughter. Every decision branches the story, with dialogue and events written by a rotating cast of authors. The narrative twists as you piece together who to trust, with outcomes shifting based on how you interact with characters and objects. What sets Alabaster apart is its collaborative storytelling. Emily Short’s framework lets dozens of writers contribute scenes, creating a mosaic of voices and tones. While some sections feel polished, others lean experimental, offering a raw, unpredictable experience. It’s a short but dense game, praised for its clever structure and moral ambiguity. Players who enjoy narrative-driven puzzles and ambiguous endings often highlight its replayability.

Storyline

The Queen has told you to return with her heart in a box. Snow White has made you promise to make other arrangements. Now that you're alone in the forest, it's hard to know which of the two women to trust. The Queen is certainly a witch—but her stepdaughter may be something even more horrible...