Escape from Death

Steal Death’s power and break free of his corrupt realm!

Conceal your heartbeat from the ever-watchful dead as you awaken to forbidden soul magic, navigate treacherous political schemes, shape the destiny of the Afterlife, and dare to seize its throne for yourself.

"Escape from Death" is a 256,000-word interactive horror adventure novel written by Tova Näslund. Entirely text-based—with no graphics or sound effects—this immersive experience thrives on the limitless power of your imagination.

In the physical world, your body lingers in the fragile space between life and death, your heart still faintly beating. But your spirit has been torn away, cast into the terrifying Afterlife—a realm ruled with an iron grip by Death himself. Here, oppression and cruelty are law. At the lowest rung are the Penitents: tormented souls bound to Death by debt, warped by his dark magic into eerie animal-human hybrids. Above them stand the Elect—those favored by Death—who live in luxury, privilege, and absolute freedom.

Yet now, the Afterlife teeters on the edge of deeper decay. Performers vanish without a trace from the opulent entertainment district; a sanctuary sheltering both Penitents and the Elect is under siege; and a strange, creeping illness spreads across the land, corrupting everything it touches.

Amid this rising chaos lies both danger and opportunity. At the core of the Afterlife stands the Clockwork Hall—seat of Death’s Court and vault of all souls. If you can navigate the shadows, outwit your enemies, and survive the growing darkness, you may find a path to the Hall. There, you can strike at the heart of Death’s tyranny, escape back to the living world—or claim ultimate power for yourself.

* Choose your identity: play as male, female, or nonbinary; gay, straight, or bi.
* Forge deep connections: fall for your sorrowful Penitent guide, a daring revolutionary bird-woman, a warrior seeking freedom from Death’s service, or an idealistic healer fighting for justice.
* Wield the arcane magic of the Afterlife: peer through the veil between worlds, uncover the hidden dreams and desires of lost souls, and capture the fading memories of the living.
* Enter an epic struggle for power: stand with the oppressed Penitents, align with the privileged Elect, or walk a delicate path to gain the trust of both.
* Shape your journey: vanish into the shadows to evade Death’s wrath, infiltrate his court with spies, build alliances to expand your influence, or rise through bold acts of defiance that echo across the Afterlife.
* Decide the future of the Afterlife: preserve Death’s order, install a new ruler, or take the throne and become the next sovereign of the dead.

Can you survive the darkness, outwit the reaper, and forge your own fate?

What's New in Version 1.0.4

Updated on Jul 20, 2024
Bug fixes implemented.

If you’re enjoying "Escape from Death", we’d love your support—please leave a written review. Your feedback makes a real difference!