Knights of San
Francisco Review

Knights of San Francisco (2021) is a text adventure with simulated combat. Through a series of textual choices and encounters, you explore what remains of the ancient city of San Francisco. It stands out for a complex evolving world and simulated combat all presented to the player in elegant erudite text.

The game is set in future San Francisco in a world where goblins, ogres, and dragons are real. Through well-written prose, you find yourself in the ruins of this city. It is played like a turn-based tabletop role-play game, where the fun is as much on how things unfold as it is on winning or losing.

As you progress you must manage your Stamina and Sanity through a series of choices. Where it really stands out though is in the simulated combat. The game keeps track of each enemy right down to what they are holding and the condition of individual body parts. You can even (if you want) cut off someone’s leg, take it, and bash it over their head.

The result is a game that is complex beneath the surface, but simple to play. You find yourself making each choice with caution because every action has consequences. Make a mistake in battle and you could lose recruits in your party. Add to this the sense of a living, breathing world where the text is different each time you play and this is a really special experience.

Our examiner, Andy Robertson, first checked Knights of San Francisco 11 months ago. It was re-examined by Jo Robertson and updated 3 weeks ago.