This is literally just copy-pasted from a post on my blog, but I felt as though it was worth getting the words on here directly. I hope that’s okay!
Who would have suspected that I would use the same pseudonym two years in a row? Okay, fine, just about everybody. I’d already done the same thing with the “Hubert Janus” persona, after all. The true identity of Leah Thargic was something of an open secret, and it probably didn’t help that I literally just scrawled a 2 over the cover art for last year’s Uninteractive Fiction. I’m flattered that my squiggle prompted a hunt for the font used, but no: I just drew it with my mouse. It did take a few attempts, though. In fact, I think I took almost as long scribbling that 2 as I did arranging the skull.
With 125 votes, Uninteractive Fiction 2 was the most-voted-on game of IFComp 2025, making this the third year in a row that I’ve managed that. (The Burger Meme Personality Test was a very close second this time around, with 123.) I’m keen to continue my streak if I can, but will not be doing so with a three-word-long joke game, as that’s beginning to feel unsporting. Uninteractive Fiction 1 was a last-minute throwaway entry that got far more traction than I ever expected. Uninteractive Fiction 2 was an attempt to build on it – rewarding players who actually opened the thing up to investigate its workings (as happened with the first one) – but it seems I may have obfuscated those workings a little too well: most people apparently never realised there was anything more to it. I feel a little bad about that. I also feel a little bad that it ultimately placed second-to-last. The game that placed below it was essentially non-functional rather than actually unpopular, so I hope the author won’t be too discouraged by the way things shook out.
I had no idea there was more to this game. I just tried to open the source file in Twine and it briefly froze my computer before I hurriedly closed it. Does anyone know how to find the secret?
I think I’m going to rate myself a 2 for my lack of code spelunking.
That’s so cool!!! Absolutely never would have thought to open it up and dissect the game. It must be weird knowing there’s a whole other layer to it that 99% of people weren’t even aware of. I fully thought this entry was a joke, but you actually put some real work into it. Well done.
Yeah, I thought this was just a single-joke game like the other ones. [Edit: Other one. There was only one before this.] What the hell.
There should be a new rule that every Uninteractive Fiction-like has some diabolically concealed puzzle inside it. This one’s puzzle is on the level as The Game Formerly Known as Hidden Nazi Mode. Though, I have to say I like The Game Formerly Known as Hidden Nazi Mode better without the puzzle, while this game is much improved by the puzzle. There’s been a lot of discussion about Hidden Nazi Mode already, Drew Cook had a good thread about it a while ago.
