Your First Steps Into the Dark

How to Play

No experience needed. The game will guide you.

The Basics

ShadowLore in Four Steps

  1. Read the Story

    Each scene presents a passage of prose describing where you are and what is happening. Read it. The details matter — names, objects, and observations that seem minor often become significant later.

  2. Make a Choice

    At the end of each passage, you'll see a set of choices — usually two to four options. Tap or click the one you want to take. Some choices are locked (🔓) and only appear if you've taken certain paths earlier in the story.

  3. Watch Your Stats

    Three stats track who you're becoming: Knowledge (what you've learned), Reputation (how others see you), and Courage (how you've acted under pressure). Stats don't block paths — but they reflect the kind of person your choices are building.

  4. Reach an Ending

    ShadowLore has four distinct endings — one dark bargain, two bittersweet resolutions, and one true ending. The ending you reach depends on the path you took and the secrets you uncovered. No ending is truly "wrong" — they are simply different shapes of consequence.

Tips from the Archivist

  • Explore before going directly to the castle. The people of Valdris have information you cannot find anywhere else.
  • Locked choices (🔓) are unlocked by taking specific paths earlier. If you see one you can't access, it means there's a route through the story you haven't found yet.
  • The Journal button in the game tracks everywhere you've been. Use it to orient yourself.
  • Your progress saves automatically. You can close the browser and return later — the game picks up exactly where you left off.
  • The true ending requires knowledge that is hidden. Look carefully at every location.
  • There are no wrong choices — only different costs. Every path leads somewhere worth reaching.
  • If you want to try a different path, use Restart after reaching an ending. A second playthrough often reveals things the first one obscured.

Questions

FAQ

Is it free?

Yes, completely. No account, no payment, no in-app purchases. ShadowLore is free to play in full.

How long does it take?

A single playthrough takes 45–90 minutes depending on reading pace. Finding all endings requires 2–3 playthroughs.

Does my progress save?

Yes. Progress is saved automatically to your browser's local storage after every choice. It persists across sessions.

Can I restart?

Yes. The Restart button in the game menu starts a new game. Your previous save will be lost, so use it intentionally.

How many endings are there?

Four: The New Hollow (dark), The Shadow's Price (dark), The Last Record (bittersweet), Mira's Choice (bittersweet), and The True Name (the good ending, requires finding hidden knowledge).

Is the content suitable for all ages?

ShadowLore contains dark themes — mortality, moral ambiguity, grief, and existential horror — handled through literary prose. Intended for readers 16+. No graphic violence or explicit content.

You Are Ready

The Archivist has told you everything you need. The rest, you discover in the dark.

Begin the Anthology