Lux, City of Secrets

Lux, City of Secrets is an interactive text-based adventure game set in a fantasy world where players take on the role of a detective unraveling mysteries in the sprawling, enigmatic city of Lux. The game blends elements of RPG and detective fiction, allowing players to make choices that shape their investigation, relationships, and the outcome of the story. With a rich narrative, players explore various locations, interact with diverse characters, and solve puzzles to uncover the truth behind the mayor’s death and other hidden secrets lurking in the city.

Lux, City of Secrets: A Masterclass in Interactive Fiction and Narrative Depth

Introduction: The Unseen Gem of 2021

In the vast, often oversaturated landscape of indie games, Lux, City of Secrets emerges as a quiet revolution—a text-based interactive fiction that defies the conventions of modern gaming while delivering an experience so rich, so immersive, that it challenges the very notion of what a “game” can be. Released on May 6, 2021, by Hosted Games and written by Thom Baylay, Lux is the third installment in The Evertree Saga, a series that has steadily cultivated a devoted following through its intricate world-building, deep character customization, and a narrative so branching that it feels less like a story and more like a living, breathing world.

At its core, Lux, City of Secrets is a detective mystery set in a sprawling fantasy metropolis, where the player is tasked with unraveling a web of conspiracies, political intrigue, and personal drama. But to reduce it to such a simple description would be a disservice. This is a game about choices—not just the ones you make, but the ones you ignore. It’s a game about balance: between duty and desire, between friendship and ambition, between the past and the future. And it’s a game that, despite its lack of traditional graphics or sound, paints a more vivid picture of its world than many AAA titles could ever hope to achieve.

In this review, we will dissect Lux, City of Secrets with the depth it deserves, exploring its development, narrative, gameplay, world-building, reception, and legacy. By the end, it will be clear why this game is not just a standout in the interactive fiction genre, but a landmark in storytelling as a whole.

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Development History & Context: The Rise of Hosted Games and the ChoiceScript Revolution

The Studio and the Vision

Hosted Games, a subsidiary of Choice of Games, has long been a pioneer in the interactive fiction space. Founded on the principle that games should be driven by narrative and player agency rather than flashy graphics, Hosted Games has carved out a niche for itself by publishing text-based experiences that prioritize depth, replayability, and inclusivity. Lux, City of Secrets is a prime example of this philosophy in action.

The game was written by Thom Baylay, a name that may not be as recognizable as, say, Hideo Kojima or Todd Howard, but one that carries significant weight in the interactive fiction community. Baylay’s previous works, Evertree Inn and Sordwin, laid the groundwork for The Evertree Saga, a series that has been praised for its rich lore, complex characters, and a rare ability to make players feel like their choices genuinely matter. With Lux, Baylay sought to expand the scope of the series, moving from the cozy confines of a rural inn and a small town to the bustling, cutthroat streets of a major city.

Technological Constraints and the Power of ChoiceScript

Lux, City of Secrets was built using ChoiceScript, a simple yet powerful programming language designed specifically for creating multiple-choice interactive novels. ChoiceScript’s strength lies in its accessibility—it allows writers with little to no coding experience to craft branching narratives with relative ease. However, this simplicity belies the complexity of the stories that can be told with it.

For Lux, Baylay leveraged ChoiceScript to create a game with over 500,000 words of content, a staggering amount that dwarfs many traditional novels. The engine’s limitations—such as the lack of graphics or sound—forced Baylay to rely entirely on the power of prose to immerse players in the world of Lux. This constraint, rather than hindering the experience, actually enhances it. Without visual or auditory distractions, players are free to let their imaginations run wild, filling in the gaps with their own mental images of the city, its inhabitants, and the unfolding drama.

The Gaming Landscape in 2021

2021 was a year dominated by high-profile releases like Resident Evil Village, Deathloop, and Metroid Dread. In such a crowded market, a text-based game like Lux could easily have been overlooked. However, the gaming landscape was also undergoing a quiet shift. The COVID-19 pandemic had led to a surge in interest in indie games, particularly those that offered deep, immersive experiences that could be enjoyed at a leisurely pace. Additionally, the success of games like Disco Elysium (2019) and Kentucky Route Zero (2020) had proven that there was a hungry audience for narrative-driven experiences that prioritized storytelling over action.

Lux, City of Secrets arrived at the perfect moment, offering a refuge for players who were tired of the same old shooters and open-world formulaic games. It was a game for thinkers, for readers, for those who wanted to lose themselves in a world where every decision carried weight and every character had a secret.

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Narrative & Thematic Deep Dive: A Web of Lies, Love, and Legacy

The Plot: A Detective Story with a Fantasy Twist

Lux, City of Secrets begins with a simple premise: the mayor of Lux believes someone is trying to kill him, and he has chosen you—the player—to save his life. This setup immediately thrusts the player into a world of political intrigue, where the aristocracy, the clergy, the city watch, and various criminal organizations all vie for power. But the game quickly makes it clear that this is not just a story about protecting a mayor. It’s a story about you—your past, your relationships, your ambitions, and the choices you make in a city that is as unforgiving as it is alluring.

The narrative unfolds over several days, with each day divided into morning, afternoon, evening, and night segments. This structure gives the game a sense of urgency and realism—time is limited, and every decision you make has an opportunity cost. Do you spend the morning investigating the mayor’s potential assassins, or do you take on a side job to earn some much-needed gold? Do you prioritize your romance with Leah, or do you focus on building your reputation with the city’s elite? The game constantly forces you to make these tough choices, and the consequences ripple outward in ways that are often unpredictable.

The Characters: A Cast of Secrets and Shadows

One of the game’s greatest strengths is its characterization. Lux is filled with a diverse cast of characters, each with their own motivations, secrets, and arcs. Some of the standouts include:

• Leah: A returning character from Evertree Inn, Leah is your potential love interest and a grounding force in the chaos of Lux. Her backstory—tied to her parents’ mysterious past and the shady organizations they were involved with—adds layers of depth to her character. The game does an excellent job of making your relationship with Leah feel organic, with moments of tenderness, conflict, and genuine emotional weight.

• Oriana: A noblewoman with a sharp tongue and a complicated relationship with her family. Oriana is one of the most morally ambiguous characters in the game, and your interactions with her can range from outright hostility to a reluctant friendship—or even something more.

• Kyra: A mysterious figure who seems to be pulling the strings behind the scenes. Kyra’s true motives are shrouded in secrecy, and unraveling her role in the mayor’s assassination plot is one of the game’s most compelling threads.

• Cal: An elf with ties to Leah’s past, Cal is a character who immediately raises red flags. His presence in Lux is suspicious, and the game does an excellent job of making the player question his intentions. Is he a friend, a foe, or something in between?

• Lord Imperion: A powerful nobleman who is as dangerous as he is charismatic. Imperion’s machinations drive much of the game’s political intrigue, and your relationship with him can have far-reaching consequences.

What makes these characters so compelling is that they are not static. Their relationships with you evolve based on your choices, and their actions have real consequences. A decision to trust Oriana in one scene might lead to her betraying you later, while a moment of kindness toward Cal could save your life—or doom you.

Themes: Power, Trust, and the Weight of the Past

At its heart, Lux, City of Secrets is a game about trust—who to trust, when to trust them, and what happens when that trust is broken. The city of Lux is a place where everyone has a secret, and the game constantly challenges the player to navigate a web of lies and half-truths. This theme is reinforced by the game’s mechanics, which often force you to make decisions with incomplete information.

Another major theme is the past’s influence on the present. Many of the game’s conflicts stem from events that happened years—or even decades—ago. Leah’s parents’ involvement with shadowy organizations, the mayor’s political maneuvering, and even your own character’s history (if you imported a save from Evertree Inn or Sordwin) all play a role in shaping the present. The game does an excellent job of making the world feel lived-in, with a history that extends far beyond the events of the story.

Finally, Lux is a game about power—who has it, who wants it, and what they’re willing to do to get it. The city’s aristocracy, the clergy, the criminal underworld, and even the common people are all engaged in a constant struggle for control. Your character is caught in the middle of this struggle, and the game forces you to decide where your loyalties lie.

Dialogue and Writing: The Power of Words

The writing in Lux, City of Secrets is nothing short of exceptional. Baylay’s prose is sharp, evocative, and filled with personality. The dialogue crackles with wit, tension, and emotional depth, and the game’s descriptions are so vivid that they paint a clear picture of Lux in the player’s mind.

One of the most impressive aspects of the writing is how adaptive it is. The game’s text changes based on your character’s background, choices, and relationships. For example, if you imported a character from Evertree Inn, the game will reference past events and relationships, making the world feel continuous and alive. Similarly, your character’s profession, reputation, and even their romantic interests all influence how other characters interact with you.

The game also does an excellent job of showing, not telling. Instead of dumping exposition on the player, it lets you piece together the story through conversations, environmental details, and subtle hints. This approach makes the mystery feel more organic and rewarding to unravel.

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Gameplay Mechanics & Systems: Choice, Consequence, and the Illusion of Freedom

Core Gameplay Loop: A Day in the Life of a Luxican Detective

Lux, City of Secrets is structured around a day-night cycle, with each day divided into four segments: morning, afternoon, evening, and night. During each segment, you are presented with a variety of activities to pursue, ranging from main story missions to side quests, romantic encounters, and career-related tasks.

The game’s core loop is deceptively simple:
1. Choose an activity for the current time segment.
2. Engage with the activity, making choices that affect the outcome.
3. Deal with the consequences, which may include changes to your reputation, relationships, or the overall story.

What makes this loop so compelling is the sheer number of options available at any given time. Do you want to investigate the mayor’s assassination plot? You can. Do you want to take on a job as a bounty hunter? You can. Do you want to spend the evening flirting with Leah at a tavern? You can do that too. The game never forces you down a single path, and the freedom to choose your own adventure is intoxicating.

Combat and Character Progression: A Unique Approach

Unlike traditional RPGs, Lux, City of Secrets does not feature turn-based or real-time combat. Instead, conflicts are resolved through choice-based encounters, where your success depends on your character’s stats, reputation, and the choices you make in the moment.

Your character’s progression is tied to their profession, of which there are twenty to choose from. Each profession offers unique storylines, abilities, and challenges. For example:
– Druid: Focuses on nature-based magic and exploration.
– Bounty Hunter: Involves tracking down criminals and engaging in high-stakes confrontations.
– Thief: Centers around stealth, deception, and heists.
– Cleric: Revolves around faith, healing, and interactions with the city’s religious institutions.

Your profession influences not only what activities are available to you but also how other characters perceive and interact with you. A bounty hunter might be respected by the city watch but feared by the criminal underworld, while a cleric might have the ear of the clergy but struggle to gain the trust of the aristocracy.

Reputation and Relationships: The Social Fabric of Lux

One of the most innovative aspects of Lux is its reputation system. Your actions affect how different factions view you, and these reputations can open or close doors throughout the game. The major factions include:
– The Aristocracy: The city’s noble families, who wield political and economic power.
– The Clergy: The religious institutions that hold sway over the city’s spiritual and moral life.
– The Watch: The city’s law enforcement, tasked with maintaining order.
– The Poor: The common people, who are often at the mercy of the city’s elite.
– The Criminal Underworld: The thieves, assassins, and smugglers who operate in the shadows.

Your reputation with these factions affects everything from the jobs you can take to the information you can uncover. For example, a high reputation with the aristocracy might grant you access to exclusive parties and political secrets, while a high reputation with the criminal underworld might allow you to hire assassins or smuggle contraband.

Relationships with individual characters are equally important. Your interactions with Leah, Oriana, Kyra, and others can lead to romance, friendship, betrayal, or even death. The game does an excellent job of making these relationships feel dynamic and meaningful, with choices that have real emotional weight.

UI and Navigation: Simplicity with Depth

Given that Lux is a text-based game, its user interface is necessarily simple. The game is presented as a series of text passages, with choices appearing as clickable links. Despite its simplicity, the UI is intuitive and easy to navigate, with clear indicators of your current stats, reputation, and relationships.

One of the most useful features is the journal, which keeps track of your current objectives, clues, and important information. This is especially helpful given the game’s complexity—without the journal, it would be easy to lose track of the many threads you’re juggling.

Innovative Systems: The Choices You Ignore

Perhaps the most groundbreaking aspect of Lux is its emphasis on the choices you ignore. In most games, the focus is on the paths you take, but Lux makes it clear that the paths you don’t take are just as important. Every decision to pursue one activity over another has consequences, and the game does an excellent job of making you feel the weight of those choices.

For example, if you choose to spend the morning investigating the mayor’s assassination plot, you might miss out on a side quest that could have earned you valuable gold or reputation points. Conversely, if you prioritize a romantic encounter with Leah, you might fall behind in your investigation, leading to dire consequences later on.

This system creates a sense of urgency and realism that is rare in games. Time is a finite resource, and the game forces you to make tough decisions about how to spend it.

Flaws and Missed Opportunities

While Lux, City of Secrets is a masterpiece of interactive fiction, it is not without its flaws. Some of the most notable issues include:

1. Length and Pacing: At around 10-15 hours for a single playthrough, Lux is shorter than many players might expect, especially given its 500,000-word count. The game’s pacing can also feel uneven, with some days dragging while others rush by in a blur.

2. Lack of Visual and Auditory Feedback: While the text-based approach is one of the game’s strengths, it can also be a weakness. Some players may struggle to stay engaged without visual or auditory cues, especially during longer play sessions.

3. Limited Replayability for Some Players: While the game offers a staggering number of choices, some players may find that the core narrative beats remain similar across playthroughs. This can make subsequent playthroughs feel less fresh, especially if you’re not invested in exploring every possible path.

4. Technical Issues: At launch, some players reported bugs, such as the game crashing when trying to load a save. While these issues have largely been addressed, they did mar the experience for some early adopters.

Despite these flaws, Lux, City of Secrets remains a triumph of interactive storytelling, and its strengths far outweigh its weaknesses.

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World-Building, Art & Sound: The Power of Imagination

The Setting: Lux, a City of Contrasts

The city of Lux is one of the most vividly realized settings in interactive fiction. It is a place of stark contrasts—a city where opulent palaces stand alongside squalid slums, where the aristocracy rubs shoulders with thieves and beggars, and where ancient magic coexists with cutthroat politics.

Lux is divided into several distinct districts, each with its own culture, factions, and secrets:
– The Noble Quarter: Home to the city’s elite, this district is filled with grand mansions, political intrigue, and hidden alliances.
– The Temple District: The spiritual heart of the city, where the clergy holds sway and ancient rituals are performed.
– The Market District: A bustling hub of commerce, where merchants, thieves, and adventurers converge.
– The Docks: A rough-and-tumble area where smugglers, sailors, and criminals operate in the shadows.
– The Slums: A desperate, dangerous place where the city’s poor struggle to survive.

What makes Lux so compelling is that it feels alive. The city has a history, a culture, and a politics that extend far beyond the events of the game. The world-building is so thorough that even minor characters and locations feel like they have a story to tell.

Atmosphere: A City of Secrets

The atmosphere of Lux is one of mystery and tension. From the moment you arrive in the city, it’s clear that something is amiss. The mayor’s assassination plot is just the tip of the iceberg—beneath the surface, Lux is a city of secrets, where everyone has something to hide.

The game’s writing does an excellent job of conveying this atmosphere. Descriptions of dimly lit alleys, shadowy figures, and hushed conversations create a sense of dread and intrigue that permeates every aspect of the game. Even seemingly mundane activities, like visiting a tavern or shopping at the market, are imbued with a sense of tension, as you never know who might be watching or what secrets you might uncover.

Art and Sound: The Power of the Unseen

Lux, City of Secrets is a text-based game, which means it relies entirely on the power of words to create its world. There are no graphics, no sound effects, no voice acting. And yet, the game is more immersive than many AAA titles with multimillion-dollar budgets.

This is a testament to the strength of Baylay’s writing. The descriptions are so vivid, the dialogue so sharp, and the characters so well-defined that the city of Lux springs to life in the player’s imagination. In many ways, the lack of visuals is a strength—it allows each player to create their own mental image of the city, its inhabitants, and the unfolding drama.

That said, the game’s minimalist presentation may not be for everyone. Players who are accustomed to the sensory overload of modern games may find Lux’s text-based approach jarring or difficult to engage with. However, for those who are willing to embrace it, the experience is deeply rewarding.

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Reception & Legacy: A Cult Classic in the Making

Critical Reception: A Niche Masterpiece

At launch, Lux, City of Secrets received mostly positive reviews from players, with a 72% approval rating on Steam based on 29 reviews. Critics and players alike praised the game’s deep narrative, complex characters, and innovative gameplay mechanics. However, the game’s text-based nature and relatively short length led to some mixed reactions.

One of the most common criticisms was the game’s lack of visuals, which some players found difficult to engage with. Others felt that the game was too short, especially given its 500,000-word count. However, the majority of reviews were overwhelmingly positive, with many players hailing Lux as one of the best interactive fiction games they had ever played.

Commercial Performance: A Quiet Success

Lux, City of Secrets was not a blockbuster hit, but it didn’t need to be. As a niche interactive fiction game, it found a devoted audience among fans of the genre. The game’s commercial success was bolstered by its affordable price point ($7.99 on Steam) and its strong word-of-mouth reputation among interactive fiction enthusiasts.

The game’s release on multiple platforms—including Windows, Mac, Linux, and Android—also helped to broaden its appeal. Additionally, the game’s inclusivity (allowing players to choose their gender, sexuality, and identity) resonated with a diverse audience, further contributing to its success.

Evolution of Reputation: From Hidden Gem to Cult Classic

In the years since its release, Lux, City of Secrets has grown from a hidden gem to a cult classic in the interactive fiction community. The game’s reputation has been bolstered by its strong fanbase, who have created guides, walkthroughs, and even fan fiction based on the world of Lux.

The game’s replayability has also contributed to its enduring appeal. With twenty professions, five houses, and countless choices, Lux offers a nearly infinite number of playthroughs, each with its own unique story. This has led to a thriving community of players who continue to discover new secrets and outcomes years after the game’s release.

Influence on Subsequent Games: A New Standard for Interactive Fiction

Lux, City of Secrets has had a profound influence on the interactive fiction genre. Its emphasis on player agency, deep world-building, and meaningful choices has set a new standard for what interactive fiction can achieve.

The game’s success has also paved the way for other interactive fiction titles, proving that there is a hungry audience for narrative-driven experiences that prioritize storytelling over graphics. Games like Leas: City of the Sun and The Brightest Stars have followed in Lux’s footsteps, offering similarly deep and immersive experiences.

Perhaps most importantly, Lux has challenged the notion of what a “game” can be. It has shown that a game doesn’t need flashy graphics or complex mechanics to be compelling—it just needs a great story, well-told.

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Conclusion: A Landmark in Interactive Storytelling

Lux, City of Secrets is more than just a game—it is a masterclass in interactive storytelling. It is a game that respects its players, offering them a world that is as deep as it is dangerous, as mysterious as it is alluring. It is a game that challenges its players, forcing them to make tough choices and live with the consequences. And it is a game that rewards its players, offering a narrative experience that is as rich and rewarding as any novel or film.

In a gaming landscape dominated by sequels, shooters, and open-world formulaic experiences, Lux, City of Secrets stands as a bold, brilliant anomaly. It is a game that proves that words alone can create a world more vivid and immersive than any graphics engine. It is a game that proves that choices matter, not just in the moment, but in the long arc of a story. And it is a game that proves that interactive fiction is not just a niche genre, but a powerful, vital form of storytelling.

For fans of narrative-driven games, Lux, City of Secrets is essential playing. For fans of mystery, intrigue, and deep character drama, it is a must-experience. And for anyone who has ever dreamed of losing themselves in a world where every choice carries weight, it is nothing short of a revelation.

Final Verdict: 9.5/10 – A Masterpiece of Interactive Fiction

Lux, City of Secrets is not just one of the best interactive fiction games ever made—it is one of the best games, period. It is a testament to the power of storytelling, the importance of player agency, and the enduring appeal of a well-crafted mystery. If you have even a passing interest in narrative-driven experiences, do yourself a favor and dive into the secrets of Lux. You won’t just be playing a game—you’ll be living a story.