Micha's Games

Hey! I’m Micha – I’m the creative mind behind Michas Games. As a solo indie game developer, I create narrative-driven games in the genres of interactive fiction and serious games.

I’ve been fascinated by video games since I was a kid. When I was finally able to buy my first computer in the mid-1980s, games quickly became a constant companion. Text adventures, role-playing games, and business simulations fired up my imagination. Stories began to unfold in my mind, feeding my curiosity.

Before long, I wanted to make my own games. So I taught myself how to code. Years later, that path even led me into a career in the German IT industry. It was through games that I learned to think analytically, spot patterns, and solve complex problems.

Then, a few years ago, something clicked—I remembered the dream that started it all… I dove back into the technologies available today and began reflecting on the kind of games I truly wanted to create. That’s when I realized—I wanted to make games that tell compelling stories, spark curiosity, and inspire people to think.

You’ll find those games here on this site. I hope you enjoy playing them and find them thought-provoking. Feel free to share your thoughts—I’d love to hear what you think!

My games place a strong emphasis on storytelling. That means you’ll always have something to read or listen to as you play. You’ll constantly be making choices to move the story forward. Some of these decisions might have only a small impact on what happens, while others could completely upend the plot—or even change your entire worldview. But there are no right or wrong choices here. Of course, my games also include puzzles and other obstacles that will challenge you along the way. Still, your decisions will simply guide the story in a particular direction.

You won’t need luck to succeed in my games. Randomness might occasionally get in your way, shaking things up just enough to keep you on your toes. Depending on the game, you might encounter new or altered challenges with each playthrough. But in the end, it’s your mind—not chance—that will carry you to the finish. To me, it’s important that my games are fair. I always want to give you a real shot at overcoming the challenges they present. And if you do fail a playthrough, that failure is part of the experience. Don’t get discouraged – each attempt is part of the journey..

As a one-person studio, I keep things simple – but intentional. You probably won’t find flashy graphics or a full orchestral soundtrack. Instead, I focus on sparking your imagination and crafting an atmosphere that draws you in, creating a truly engaging and entertaining experience. I really hope I can live up to that ambition. I’d love to hear what you think—let me know how you liked the game. I’m excited to hear your impressions.

Something I realized pretty early on is that I don’t want to create games just to make money. Just to be clear, I’d love for my games to be successful on Steam or Google Play. But I’m not doing this just to make a living from game development. That’s why I still have a regular job – one that covers the rent, puts food on the table, and takes care of the basics.

That said, developing games takes a fair amount of capital. So far, I’ve always funded my projects out of my own pocket. But as my ambitions grow, so does the need for financial resources. There are a lot of things that other people simply do better than I can. I want to bring those people on board. And I want to pay them fairly for their work and expertise. After all, everyone needs to earn a living. And when people are treated with fairness and respect, they contribute something truly great to the games.

I don’t want to be dependent on investors or publishers. When other people or companies have a financial stake in my games, they’ll inevitably want to influence them. That could mean I’m no longer able to tell my stories the way I envision them—or take the time I need to do them justice. If partnerships become necessary, I want them to happen at the very end of the development process, like for organizing international distribution. The creative control over my games should always stay with me.

I want to make my games accessible to a wide audience. That’s why there will always be a free version available. Usually, that means a web-based version, though sometimes there’ll also be downloadable versions for Windows, Linux, or Android. If you’ve played one of my games and enjoyed it, I’d really appreciate a contribution. You can always do that via my Steady support page, and for each game there may be additional ways to contribute.

Thanks to your support, I get to create the kind of games I truly believe in. That means the world to me.

I first came into contact with video games in the late 1970s. Some of my older brothers’ friends owned one of those early Pong consoles, like the Interton Video 2000—or even the Interton VC4000. As a five- or six-year-old, I was absolutely thrilled by the idea of playing tennis or racing games all by myself on a TV screen. Where else could you experience something like that?

Much to my dismay, my parents weren’t at all enthusiastic about me spending time on “television games” (as video games were still called back then). They flat-out refused to buy me one of those new and super cool Atari VCS 2600 consoles. My dad used to say, “Buy yourself one of those monkey boxes with your own money, once you’ve got some!” So I started saving every penny I could get my hands on. A few years later, I finally managed to buy a used console, along with a small TV and four or five games.

For a while, I was on cloud nine—finally able to play those games! But after a time, I had beaten most of them, and they started to feel boring. Pocket money was always tight, so even used games were a rare treat. I started thinking, If only I could make my own games!

Not long after, a friend of mine got one of those brand-new home computers—a “Commodore 64.” He was super proud of his high-tech machine and wouldn’t stop talking about the amazing games he could play on it, and how he was learning to write his own programs in BASIC through an evening class. I borrowed the BASIC manual from him and taught myself how to code. Without a computer of my own, it wasn’t easy—I had to write my first games on paper. But my friend invited me over to punch them into his C64 and try them out. And guess what? They worked—and they were fun!

That settled it: I needed a computer of my own. Unfortunately, my parents were still against all things electronic. So once again, I scrimped and saved every cent I could until I could finally afford a computer of my own. With persistence and determination, I eventually managed to turn my passion into a profession and found my place in the world of IT. Sadly, that left less and less time for developing games.

But hold on—you make your own luck, as the saying goes. A few years ago, I decided to return to game development. With all my experience in database and web development, project management, IT training, and content creation, surely I had what it takes to make some cool games, right?

Since then, I’ve spent a lot of time experimenting with the tools available. I’ve built prototypes for various game ideas—and scrapped many of them. Along the way, I also discovered the kind of games I actually want to create. That’s how I ended up with interactive fiction. I want to tell engaging, exciting stories that put you in charge of the outcome through the choices you make. I want to spark your curiosity. Maybe I’ll even challenge your thinking or introduce you to topics you’ve never considered before. And hopefully, you’ll have just as much fun playing my games as I do making them!

If you’ve just played one of my games and had a great time, I’m thrilled to hear it—and I’d love your support.

The easiest way to support me is by telling your family, friends, or coworkers about my game and how much fun you had with it. Don’t hesitate to share your experience in online forums or on social media. Do you run a blog, a podcast, or post online videos? Then I’d love it if you sent me the link! I always enjoy reading or hearing what others think of my games.

I’m also very grateful for any financial support — it helps me continue pursuing my passion with dedication. I do my best to keep costs low, but some expenses are unavoidable. A one-time donation via PayPal or my GoFundMe campaign goes a long way toward covering those costs.

For those who’d like to go the extra mile, I’ve set up a supporter campaign on Patreon and Steady. There, you can choose from different tiers to send some money my way. Depending on the tier, you could become part of my current games — with a thank-you credit, access to playtests, or the chance to share your feedback through surveys. Just check out the different options available on Patreon and Steady.

I also plan to sell my games and bonus content on platforms like Steam or Itch.io, even if free versions are available. Every purchase is not just a thank-you for the work I’ve done — it’s a boost that helps me keep creating new and better games.

Thanks so much for checking out my work—whether you’re just curious, spending a little time, or even choosing to support me. It means the world.