While perhaps no one's first choice for a gaming system, several games have popped up on the Amazon Alexa Skills store over the past couple of years. With only voice as the device’s primary input that may seem impossible, but if Nintendo could release Hey You, Pikachu! all the way back in 1998, there’s plenty of potential with today’s voice recognition capabilities.
Those curious to check out some of these games on their own Alexa need only say "Alexa, what are your skills?" to get a sample of what’s available. Productivity apps and trivia may make up most of the roster, but there are a few surprising titles that are a lot more fun than one may first assume.
10 Journey To The Year 3000
Kickstarter campaigns have helped indie developers and small publishing teams get their games onto PC and console platforms alike. The platform’s projects aren’t restricted to the conventional, however. Back in 2019, ABQ Interactive launched their campaign to create an interactive audiobook adaptation of Journey to the Year 3000 — authored by Edward Packard, the writer of the first book registered under the Choose Your Own Adventure name.
Choose Your Own Adventure games bridge the gap between book-lovers and gamers. But with the rise and popularity of audiobooks, interactive audio fiction seems like the next logical step. Luckily, ABQ Interactive isn’t the only company that thinks so given the sheer number of titles popping up on Amazon's Alexa.
- Command: ”Alexa, start Journey 3000”
9 Choice Of The Dragon
Founded in 2009, Choice of Games helped make interactive fiction more accessible with their first browser-based game Choice of the Dragon. Since then, the studio has grown to encompass over 100 titles. And their ChoiceScript scripting language makes it easier for budding authors to create their own interactive fiction titles.
Ported by Matchbook Mobile — the studio behind the first Google Assistant game Who Was? — Choice of the Dragon allows players to customize their own dragon to become the kingdom’s savior or a complete menace.
- Command: “Alexa, open Choice of the Dragon”
8 The Bard’s Tale - Warlocks Of Largefearn
Are games on the Amazon Alexa limited only to interactive fiction? The limited array of input options on Alexa devices beyond speech does restrict several genres, but that doesn’t mean developers can’t innovate. And thinking of genres that tend to have long and enthralling narration, classic roleplaying games certainly come to mind.
Interplay’s 1985 title The Bard's Tale allows players to create a party of six to delve through dungeons. The Amazon Alexa ‘port’ (if it can even be called that) lacks many of the features many associated with the original game. There are four party slots, sure. And there are dungeons...technically. But it’s hard to say this is the best way to enjoy the series.
- Command: ”Alexa, open The Bard's Tale”
7 The Lost Legends Of Redwall: Escape The Gloomer
Another genre has spawned with voice as its primary input. Conversational Adventure games — a term coined by Team Clopas CEO Scott Adams — attempt to break the typical CYOA mold by maximizing player freedom by simulating an ‘open world’ that allows players more freedom to speak how they would in their day-to-day life.
Fans of Brian Jacques’ popular Redwall children’s book series can enjoy one such Conversational Adventure game in their favorite world. Play through nine chapters of family fun — and possibly look out for more of Team Clopas’ games coming to Steam in the future.
- Command: ”Alexa, start Escape the Gloomer”
6 Wraith: The Oblivion - The Orpheus Device
When thinking about the World of Darkness setting, Vampire: The Masquerade may be the first to come to mind. But vampires aren’t the only focus of games in the series. Wraith: The Oblivion lets ghosts take a starring role and players are left to determine what the afterlife means for them.
Penned by White Wolf’s Richard Dansky and Dave Grossman of Monkey Island fame, The Orpheus Device is great for horror fans who want to turn out the lights and listen to something spooky. It’s unknown, however, if Alexa discerns screams as a valid type of input.
- Command: “Alexa, start The Orpheus Device”
5 Assassin’s Creed Odyssey Spartan
Sure, interactive fiction, adventure games, and classic RPGs all make sense in an audio-based format. But... would it be possible to play an action game on an Alexa device? Well, players shouldn't get their hopes up. Ubisoft did release an Assassin’s Creed ‘game’ for the device, but it comes sans any of the gameplay iconic to the series.
Odyssey Spartan is more of a voice assistant software with light interactive fiction elements. Tired of Alexa’s robotic voice and want to shout shopping lists at a Spartan soldier? Or want to hear a joke that only friends, Romans, and countrymen can truly understand? Well, this app certainly does deliver in that regard.
- Command: ”Alexa, open the Spartan”
4 New World: Vitae Aeternum
Many likely know about New World — one of Amazon’s popular ventures into the MMO genre. The voice-based spin-off game for the Alexa however? Unlikely. And perhaps since the game lacks the multiplayer and full-loot PVP appeal of its parent game, that’s to be expected.
One has to wonder if a multiplayer voice game would ever be possible. Networking troubles aside, could a voice-based MMO be set up in a way to mimic a tabletop RPG with a never-ending cast? Or would it quickly turn into an average Xbox Live voice lobby where communication is restricted to shouting obscenities?
- Command: ”Alexa, play New World”
3 The Oregon Trail
A pioneer in its own right, The Oregon Trail — created by three Minnesota-based educators — allowed thousands of kids in the early 1970s to learn not just about the American West in the 1800s but be introduced to computer gaming.
It’s important to note, however, that The Oregon Trail (and similar titles such as Pioneer Trail) are not officially licensed ports. IP lawyers would have better luck sorting through the legality of that. Or maybe the developers played enough of the Ace Attorney series to throw an objection to any such claims.
- Command: ”Alexa, open the Oregon Trail Unofficial” or ”Alexa, open Pioneer Trail”
2 Escape The Room
The origins of ‘Escape the Room’ games are a little hazy given the Flash era being a wild west for browser gaming, but many cite Toshimitsu Takagi’s Crimson Room as the one that popularized the genre. Since then, the genre found its way onto consoles, mobile, and the Amazon Alexa.
Surprisingly enough, the genre is actually a great fit for voice-centric input. Players state their command — whether that’s to look at a particular object or move to a different part of the room — and are given verbal clues to solve puzzles. Perhaps that’s why several ‘Escape the Room’ games have popped up on the Alexa Skills store.
- Command: ”Alexa, open Escape the Room”
1 Skyrim: Very Special Edition
Back in 2018, Bethesda Softworks released a sketch with actor Keegan-Michael Key of Key and Peele fame taking a dig at the company's tendency to release Skyrim for every platform imaginable. Fans may have played into the gag by creating a fan port for the T1-84 graphing calculator. But it was Bethesda themselves that followed through on the sketch’s presumed satirical promise.
Much as it was portrayed in the comedy sketch, the game allows players to take on quests, use dragon shouts, and even enjoy a sweet roll. After a few hours of playing Skyrim: Very Special Edition at home, it may not only be the Whiterun guards asking players to stop shouting.
- Command: ”Alexa, open Skyrim”