The Play's the Thing
Win fame as a playwright before dark forces bring the curtain down for good! In a city stalked by a deadly curse, how will the power of your pen change the world?
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About The Play's the Thing
The Play's the Thing is a 215,000-word interactive fantasy novel by Jo Graham and Amy Griswold. It's entirely text-based, without graphics or sound effects, and fueled by the vast, unstoppable power of your imagination.
You're an aspiring playwright trying to make your fortune by writing for the stage. You'll need to decide what you want to say, figure out how to make your play a hit, and wrestle with your penny-pinching manager, skeptical director, and temperamental actors to bring your vision to life.
But as you're waiting for your first opening night, rumors begin flying. Deadly, shadowy creatures are stalking the city's streets. Mysterious accidents threaten your productions. It's a curse, people whisper—but only where the city's stern ruler, the Raven, can't hear them. And to discover the roots of the curse, you'll have to dig deep into secrets that the city's nobles would prefer to see stay safely buried.
Your words have the power to inspire the Raven and their two quarreling heirs to take starring roles in saving the city, but only if your plays succeed in portraying honor, passion, or hope skillfully enough to touch hearts and change minds. Unearth secrets to break the curse, battle the shadowy creatures that stalk your theater, and stage one final play that will change the world.
- Play as male, female, or nonbinary; gay, straight, bisexual, aromantic, or asexual.
- Win popular fame, critical acclaim, or royal favor and avoid scandalous exile.
- Uncover mysterious secrets from the Raven's past—and your own.
- Wrangle squabbling actors, a performing bear, and a malfunctioning avalanche.
- Battle dark creatures with enchantment, swordplay, or spectacular monologues.
- Assassinate the city's tyrannical ruler, or win them over with your inspiring productions.
- Find love or lasting friendship with your actor buddy, the theater's ascerbic director, a swashbuckling city guard, or the heir to the city .
- Use your fabulous wardrobe to play whatever role will win the day.
Game details
Game details
Age ratings
Game modes
Languages
The Play's the Thing price history
Lowest tracked price: £3.29 (Jul 7, 2026) · current best: £4.99.
The Play's the Thing reviews
85% positive reviews all-time.
The Play's the Thing — frequently asked questions
Where can I buy The Play's the Thing at the cheapest price?
Right now the cheapest offer for The Play's the Thing is £4.99 at Steam. KingsPrice compares 1 offers from 1 stores — official stores and keyshops — and refreshes prices throughout the day.
What is the lowest price The Play's the Thing has ever been?
The lowest price KingsPrice has tracked for The Play's the Thing is £3.29 (recorded on Jul 7, 2026). This covers the stores and period we monitor — set a price alert to catch the next drop to that level.
How can I get The Play's the Thing at a discount?
Create a free price alert on this page and KingsPrice will email you when The Play's the Thing drops below your chosen price. The biggest discounts usually appear during seasonal Steam sales and publisher promotions — the sale calendar on this page shows the next confirmed event.
System requirements
Minimum
- Requires a 64-bit processor and operating system
- OS *: Windows 7
Recommended
- Requires a 64-bit processor and operating system
