Twine is a free and open-source platform for making interactive fiction games, much like a "Choose Your Own Adventure" story, or practice quizzes. Twine doesn't require you to write any code, and it publishes directly to HTML so you can post your game almost anywhere. NDI hosts Twine for partners through its DemCloud cloud-hosting service.
Please contact us for additional use cases, approximate cost, timeline for implementation, and to brainstorm game ideas.
The platform is robust, has an intuitive user interface that permits:
- the ability to drag-and-drop a visual representation of the game flow
- easy editing of the narrative text and the link text
- an unlimited number of choices at each decision point
- the ability to take a variety of input types (not only the clicking of hypertext links), such as inputting variables
- the ability to add images
- highly customizable styling with CSS.
The clarity of the layout-view makes it possible to manage more complex games with exponential branching, or to elegantly display foldbacks when different sequences of choices converge.
Twine for Adaptive Leadership
NDI's Gender, Women and Democracy and DemTech teams collaborated on a game, called Leading Change, about making choices, changing circumstances, and leading through change. As players navigate decisions throughout the game, they accrue points and learn how to cultivate alliances, build accountability, generate buy-in, adapt to challenges, and create accessible community solutions.
Twine for Digital Security and Political Campaigns
NDI’s DemTech team developed a game called Alissa for North Olania to teach digital security best practices in a political campaign context. As players navigate the game, they take on the role of a campaign manager for Alissa Orme, a first-time presidential candidate in the fictional country of Olania. Players must boost Alissa’s popularity and manage campaign resources while preventing cybersecurity incidents. Through this interactive experience, players learn to handle digital security challenges, understand the importance of cybersecurity in political campaigns, and develop strategies to mitigate risks in a safe, fictional environment.
Twine for Digital Organizing and Security
NDI’s DemTech team developed a game called Digital Organizing SOS: Stories of Security to help leaders of civil society organizations enhance their digital security practices. In this single-player, mobile-friendly game, players take on the role of a cybersecurity trainer. They assist civil society leaders in organizing virtual workshops, fundraising online, using social media, and securely collecting and storing data. Through this interactive experience, players learn to navigate digital security challenges, understand the importance of cybersecurity in digital organizing, and develop effective strategies to protect their organizations in a safe, fictional environment.
Twine for Human-Centered Design and Democracy
NDI’s DemTech team developed a game called Human-Centered Design for Democracy to teach the principles of human-centered design (HCD) in the context of democratic development. In this interactive game, players take on the role of a project manager tasked with designing and implementing a community project. They must engage with community members, gather feedback, prototype solutions, and iterate on their designs. Through this experience, players learn to apply HCD methodologies, understand the importance of community involvement, and develop skills to create impactful and sustainable democratic initiatives.