<p>I have been interested in table-top role-playing games since I was ten and ever since I started teaching Chinese, i've been interested in finding ways of combining the two. While my answer does not fully satisfy your wishes, I believe it might be as close as you are likely to get.</p>

<p>Together with Kevin Bullaughey, I have created a series of text games over at <a href="https://wordswing.com/" rel="nofollow noreferrer">WordSwing</a>, specifically aimed at students of Chinese. They work on the simple basis of presenting text describing setting, actions and dialogue, followed by a number of choices you can make as a player. This would qualify as a role-playing game since you assume the role of the main character in the story. It's akin to choose-your-own-adventure games, but since it's custom-built, there are lots of things we can do that can't be done in a standard interface (such as built in resource handling, options that are hidden, change or appear depending on other things happening in the game). We also provide recorded audio synced with the text (you can even play in audio-only mode, but I know you asked about writing).</p>

<p><a href="https://i.sstatic.net/I7iqV.png" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/I7iqV.png" alt="enter image description here"></a></p>

<p>These are several ways these can be said to be for students. First, the text is deliberately kept at a certain level, avoiding difficult language and keeping to common words and easy grammar. Second, choices are meant to actively probe your reading ability. You can't just click on random options and expect to make it to the end, because many choices are outright stupid if you read and understand what's going on.</p>

<p>This is focused on reading, not writing, which is why it doesn't fully answer your question. We did discuss having typed input similar to old-school DOS adventure games such as King's Quest, but we decided this was too hard to implement well and that clever multiple-choice implementation would be more practical and maybe also better.</p>

<p>The first game we created, 逃出去 (Escape) can be played in its entirety for free, so it's easy to check it out and see what you think. You can play <a href="https://wordswing.com/text-game/escape/sessions" rel="nofollow noreferrer">in your browser</a> or download the WordSwing app for <a href="https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.wordswing.wordswingchineseapp&amp;hl=en" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Android</a> or <a href="https://apps.apple.com/us/app/wordswing-chinese/id1277286492" rel="nofollow noreferrer">iOS</a>.</p>

<p><em>Disclosure: As I said in the second paragraph, I'm recommending my own product here, although 逃出去 (Escape) is available for free. There might be other games out there that come closer to answering the question at hand, but if so, I haven't seen them.</em></p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-02-25T12:28:27.650Z
2020-02-25T12:28:27.650Z
Olle Linge
<p>MUD games</p>
<h1>北大侠客行</h1>
<p>The oldest net games in mainland China, it has been run for more than 20 years</p>
<p><a href="http://hk.pkuxkx.com/" rel="nofollow noreferrer">http://hk.pkuxkx.com/</a></p>
<p>I would say it is not easy for language learners, cuz it is an ancient background game, the text is very literary, the player is born as a young person in the Kungfu world. You need to work, find a master, join a clan, learn skills, you know it is an RPG game.</p>
<h1>br大逃杀</h1>
<p>A mud game like PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds</p>
<p><a href="http://s2.dtsgame.com/index.php" rel="nofollow noreferrer">http://s2.dtsgame.com/index.php</a></p>
<h1>武神传说</h1>
<p>Another famous wuxia game like 北大侠客行</p>
<p><a href="http://game.wsmud.com/" rel="nofollow noreferrer">http://game.wsmud.com/</a></p>
<h1>modern mobile games</h1>
<p>Take a look at 文字游戏 tag in the taptap</p>
<p><a href="https://www.taptap.com/tag/%E6%96%87%E5%AD%97%E6%B8%B8%E6%88%8F" rel="nofollow noreferrer">https://www.taptap.com/tag/%E6%96%87%E5%AD%97%E6%B8%B8%E6%88%8F</a></p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2021-03-28T15:48:54.977Z
2021-03-28T15:48:54.977Z
sfy
<p>Here are about 20 more of them.</p>
<p><a href="https://ifdb.org/search?searchbar=language%3Azh" rel="nofollow noreferrer">https://ifdb.org/search?searchbar=language%3Azh</a></p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2021-03-27T08:36:00.000Z
Link only answer should be avoided, you should quote some content from the linked page in case the link goes down some days lated
Tang Ho
CC BY-SA 4.0
2021-03-27T07:52:08.997Z
2021-03-27T07:52:08.997Z
IFforL2
<p>Many years ago I played <a href="https://cantr.net/en/" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Cantr II</a>.  It's a text-based role playing game, but it's different to most: the aim of the game is not to "level up" or kill monsters.  In fact there's no specified "goal".  What you do is develop an interesting character, and an interesting storyline.</p>

<p>Cantr II basically forces characters to cooperate with each other: you need teamwork to do anything significant.  It's also very slow paced, e.g., walking from one town to another could take around 4 real-life days.</p>

<p>Cantr II has multiple spawn points, with different spawn points having different languages.  Many people use it for language learning (<a href="https://webzine.cantr.org/english/cantr-language-learning" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Cantr II webzine</a>)---the slow-paced nature gives you time to write properly in a foreign language.  They used to have a Chinese spawn point, but it wasn't sufficiently popular, and was subsequently removed (<a href="https://forum.cantr.org/viewtopic.php?f=53&amp;t=18489" rel="nofollow noreferrer">link</a>).</p>

<p>I'd be interested to know if there's anything else available.  I can't find anything else in English, but it's hard for me to search in Chinese.</p>

<p><strong>Question</strong>: Are there text-based online roleplaying games which can be used for practicing Chinese writing?</p>

<p><a href="https://chinese.stackexchange.com/q/490/8099">What computer games provide practice?</a> gives another example "Enter Zon", but it seems to no longer be available.</p>

<hr>

<p><strong><em>Update regarding Cantr II</em></strong>:</p>

<p>I asked a related question on LanguageLearning.SE: <a href="https://languagelearning.stackexchange.com/questions/4435/is-the-online-role-playing-game-cantr-ii-much-use-for-language-learning">Is the online role-playing game Cantr II much use for language learning?</a>.  I just got an answer from <em>the author of the Cantr Webzine</em>:</p>

<blockquote>
  <p>I don't see Chinese, but if even one other person can be found (to have someone else to speak with) that may be enough to open the language again, as well as others.</p>
</blockquote>

<p>(Emphasis mine.)</p>

<p><sub>(Posting this is a little bit "adverty", so I'd like to declare I'm not affiliated with Cantr II in any way.)</sub></p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-10-29T11:34:52.680Z
I found [WordSwing](https://wordswing.com/about). It has choose your own adventure stories in Chinese.
Becky 李蓓
CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-10-29T15:44:53.140Z
Thank you very much, Becky! I'd really appreciate if you find anything else and post them here.
Enrico Brasil
CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-01-13T09:18:28.137Z
@OlleLinge: Judging from [this Hacking Chinese post](https://www.hackingchinese.com/how-to-play-adventure-text-games-with-a-chinese-teacher/) It seems you are (or your company) is the author of WordSwing.  Perhaps you could answer this question?  I haven't managed to find anything else even remotely similar.
Becky 李蓓
CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-02-25T09:18:35.570Z
@Becky李蓓 Yes, I am. We discussed early on if we should have typing input, but that's just too complicated to get right. Our games are all multiple choices, so it's more reading practice than writing practice. If you think this might answer your question, I can write a proper reply.
Olle Linge
CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-02-25T09:20:46.997Z
It’s certainly the most relevant game I’m aware of.
Becky 李蓓
CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-02-25T12:28:38.863Z
Okay, posted it as an answer now.
Olle Linge
<writing><games>
Are there text-based online roleplaying games which can be used for practicing Chinese writing?
# Are there text-based online roleplaying games which can be used for practicing Chinese writing?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2019-10-29)

Many years ago I played [Cantr II](https://cantr.net/en/). It's a text-based role playing game, but it's different to most: the aim of the game is not to "level up" or kill monsters. In fact there's no specified "goal". What you do is develop an interesting character, and an interesting storyline.

Cantr II basically forces characters to cooperate with each other: you need teamwork to do anything significant. It's also very slow paced, e.g., walking from one town to another could take around 4 real-life days.

Cantr II has multiple spawn points, with different spawn points having different languages. Many people use it for language learning ([Cantr II webzine](https://webzine.cantr.org/english/cantr-language-learning))---the slow-paced nature gives you time to write properly in a foreign language. They used to have a Chinese spawn point, but it wasn't sufficiently popular, and was subsequently removed ([link](https://forum.cantr.org/viewtopic.php?f=53&t=18489)).

I'd be interested to know if there's anything else available. I can't find anything else in English, but it's hard for me to search in Chinese.

**Question**: Are there text-based online roleplaying games which can be used for practicing Chinese writing?

[What computer games provide practice?](https://chinese.stackexchange.com/q/490/8099) gives another example "Enter Zon", but it seems to no longer be available.

---

***Update regarding Cantr II***:

I asked a related question on LanguageLearning.SE: [Is the online role-playing game Cantr II much use for language learning?](https://languagelearning.stackexchange.com/questions/4435/is-the-online-role-playing-game-cantr-ii-much-use-for-language-learning). I just got an answer from *the author of the Cantr Webzine*:

> I don't see Chinese, but if even one other person can be found (to have someone else to speak with) that may be enough to open the language again, as well as others.

(Emphasis mine.)

(Posting this is a little bit "adverty", so I'd like to declare I'm not affiliated with Cantr II in any way.)

**Tags:** writing, games

> **Comments:**
> **username_0**: I found [WordSwing](https://wordswing.com/about). It has choose your own adventure stories in Chinese.  
> **username_1**: Thank you very much, Becky! I'd really appreciate if you find anything else and post them here.  
> **username_0**: @OlleLinge: Judging from [this Hacking Chinese post](https://www.hackingchinese.com/how-to-play-adventure-text-games-with-a-chinese-teacher/) It seems you are (or your company) is the author of WordSwing.  Perhaps you could answer this question?  I haven't managed to find anything else even remotely similar.  
> **username_2**: @Becky李蓓 Yes, I am. We discussed early on if we should have typing input, but that's just too complicated to get right. Our games are all multiple choices, so it's more reading practice than writing practice. If you think this might answer your question, I can write a proper reply.  
> **username_0**: It’s certainly the most relevant game I’m aware of.  
> **username_2**: Okay, posted it as an answer now.  

---

## 3 answers

### Answer by username_2 on 2020-02-25. Score: 2

I have been interested in table-top role-playing games since I was ten and ever since I started teaching Chinese, i've been interested in finding ways of combining the two. While my answer does not fully satiusername_3 your wishes, I believe it might be as close as you are likely to get.

Together with Kevin Bullaughey, I have created a series of text games over at [WordSwing](https://wordswing.com/), specifically aimed at students of Chinese. They work on the simple basis of presenting text describing setting, actions and dialogue, followed by a number of choices you can make as a player. This would qualify as a role-playing game since you assume the role of the main character in the story. It's akin to choose-your-own-adventure games, but since it's custom-built, there are lots of things we can do that can't be done in a standard interface (such as built in resource handling, options that are hidden, change or appear depending on other things happening in the game). We also provide recorded audio synced with the text (you can even play in audio-only mode, but I know you asked about writing).

[![enter image description here](https://i.sstatic.net/I7iqV.png)](https://i.sstatic.net/I7iqV.png)

These are several ways these can be said to be for students. First, the text is deliberately kept at a certain level, avoiding difficult language and keeping to common words and easy grammar. Second, choices are meant to actively probe your reading ability. You can't just click on random options and expect to make it to the end, because many choices are outright stupid if you read and understand what's going on.

This is focused on reading, not writing, which is why it doesn't fully answer your question. We did discuss having typed input similar to old-school DOS adventure games such as King's Quest, but we decided this was too hard to implement well and that clever multiple-choice implementation would be more practical and maybe also better.

The first game we created, 逃出去 (Escape) can be played in its entirety for free, so it's easy to check it out and see what you think. You can play [in your browser](https://wordswing.com/text-game/escape/sessions) or download the WordSwing app for [Android](https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.wordswing.wordswingchineseapp&hl=en) or [iOS](https://apps.apple.com/us/app/wordswing-chinese/id1277286492).

*Disclosure: As I said in the second paragraph, I'm recommending my own product here, although 逃出去 (Escape) is available for free. There might be other games out there that come closer to answering the question at hand, but if so, I haven't seen them.*


---

### Answer by username_3 on 2021-03-28. Score: 1

MUD games

# 北大侠客行

The oldest net games in mainland China, it has been run for more than 20 years

<http://hk.pkuxkx.com/>

I would say it is not easy for language learners, cuz it is an ancient background game, the text is very literary, the player is born as a young person in the Kungfu world. You need to work, find a master, join a clan, learn skills, you know it is an RPG game.

# br大逃杀

A mud game like PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds

<http://s2.dtsgame.com/index.php>

# 武神传说

Another famous wuxia game like 北大侠客行

<http://game.wsmud.com/>

# modern mobile games

Take a look at 文字游戏 tag in the taptap

<https://www.taptap.com/tag/%E6%96%87%E5%AD%97%E6%B8%B8%E6%88%8F>


---

### Answer by username_4 on 2021-03-27. Score: 1

Here are about 20 more of them.

<https://ifdb.org/search?searchbar=language%3Azh>

> **Comments:**
> **username_5**: Link only answer should be avoided, you should quote some content from the linked page in case the link goes down some days lated  

---

