Choice of Games – WISE Score & Parent Review | Screenwise

Choice of Games

Name: Screenwise
Author: Screenwise

app2019

73%

WISE Score

4.6

App Store

A library of 100+ choose-your-own-adventure novels where your imagination does all the heavy lifting—no graphics, just words and choices.

Choice of Games

app

Teen, 2019

73%

WISE Score

4.6

App Store

A library of 100+ choose-your-own-adventure novels where your imagination does all the heavy lifting—no graphics, just words and choices.

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Where to Find

App Store

Google Play

Screenwise Verdict

Choice of Games is a rare gem in the app world: no ads, no flashy graphics, no dopamine-hijacking mechanics—just old-school interactive fiction that asks your brain to do the work. For teens who love reading and crave agency, this is fantastic. The problem? It's a Wild West of content. With 100+ stories ranging from wholesome dragon adventures to mature supernatural thrillers, there's no clear signposting for families.

Parent forums are full of people asking "which ones are safe for my 15-year-old?"—and that's the red flag. The app should do this work for you, but it doesn't. If you're willing to vet individual titles (or trust your older teen to self-select), the writing quality is legitimately award-winning and the format is cognitively enriching in a way that passive media isn't.

Bottom line: Great concept, strong execution, but requires parental homework. Not a hand-it-over-and-relax situation for younger teens.

Age Fit

Best for strong readers 13+ who enjoy interactive fiction and can self-select appropriate content. Younger kids (10-12) could handle specific family-friendly titles like Choice of the Dragon or Psy High if parents pre-screen, but the app's lack of filtering makes it risky for solo exploration under 13. Adults who love narrative games will also find plenty here.

WISE Breakdown

Wholesome

Text-based interactive novels with player agency over character creation (gender, orientation) and story outcomes. Content varies widely across 100+ titles—some are lighthearted (dragons, naval adventures), others tackle mature themes (vampires, demons, court intrigue). Parent forums note the library lacks consistent age labeling, meaning families need to vet individual stories. Generally positive emotional tone with emphasis on choice and consequence, but wholesome score capped by variable content maturity across the catalog.

Imaginative

Purely text-driven storytelling that explicitly relies on 'the vast, unstoppable power of your imagination.' Players create characters, make meaningful choices that branch narratives, and engage with wildly diverse genres—from Renaissance mystery to moon-based philosophical romance to villain school. Multiple titles are Nebula Award finalists for game writing. This is imagination-as-engine: no graphics means every scene, character, and world-building detail lives in the reader's mind. Strong creative expression through character customization and path selection.

Safe

Major safety concern: highly variable content across 100+ stories with no clear age-gating or filtering within the app. Web searches confirm parent confusion about appropriateness—forum discussions ask which titles are teen-safe, noting some contain sexual content, violence, and mature themes without clear labeling. The app description mentions 'undead attorneys,' 'kidnapping princesses,' and 'vice' without content warnings. Kids Mode is listed as available, which helps, but the core issue is that parents must individually research each story. No predatory monetization flagged, but the lack of transparent content filtering is a significant safety gap for families.

Enriching

Interactive fiction at its core is enriching: reading comprehension, decision-making, exploring consequences, empathy through role-playing diverse characters. Award recognition (Nebula, XYZZY, IFComp) signals quality writing. Themes span history, ethics, relationships, and complex scenarios (student loan debt via soul-trading is darkly clever). The choice-driven format teaches cause-and-effect thinking. However, entertainment value depends heavily on individual story selection and a teen/adult's tolerance for pure text—younger kids or reluctant readers may struggle with the format despite the cognitive benefits.

Parent Info

✓

Why It Might Be Great

Pure text-based storytelling that trains reading comprehension and decision-making without screen-zombie passivity
Inclusive character creation (gender, orientation) and genuinely branching narratives where choices matter
Award-winning writing across wild genres—moon philosophers, villain academies, haunted subways, Renaissance murder mysteries
No ads or predatory monetization; Kids Mode available for safer browsing
Perfect for teens who love reading and want agency over the story, not just passive consumption

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What to Watch For

Zero content filtering or age labels—you'll need to research individual titles before handing over the device
Some stories include mature themes (violence, romance, supernatural horror) that aren't flagged upfront
Text-only format is a dealbreaker for reluctant readers or kids who need visual stimulation
In-app purchases for additional stories—set spending limits if your teen is browsing freely

Conversation Starters

"Which story did you pick and what kind of character did you create? What made you choose that path?"
"How did your choices change the ending? Would you go back and try a different route?"
"Some of these stories have pretty complex themes—what do you think the author was trying to say about [topic]?"
"Is it harder or easier to imagine a story when there are no pictures? What did you picture in your head?"

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