NostalgiaDB vs Interactive Fiction Database

NostalgiaDB8.2Visit Interactive Fiction Database7.4Visit

Higher score NostalgiaDB #6 in Game Databases 8.2/10 Free plan Free plan✓ 1 of 5 features Visit NostalgiaDB

vs

Interactive Fiction Database #8 in Game Databases 7.4/10 Free plan Free plan✓ 1 of 5 features Visit site

• NostalgiaDB fits best

  Open retro-game catalog and downloads

• Interactive Fiction Database fits best

  Interactive-fiction catalogs and data exports

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Side by side

Feature	NostalgiaDB 8.2/10 Visit ↗	Interactive Fiction Database 7.4/10 Visit ↗
At a glance
Editor score	8.2	7.4
Ranking	#6 in Game Databases	#8 in Game Databases
Best for	Open retro-game catalog and downloads	Interactive-fiction catalogs and data exports
Pricing model	Free	Free
Starting price	Free plan	Free plan
Free plan	✓	✓
Free trial	—	—
Deployment	Cloud, Browser extension	Cloud
Platforms	Web	Web
Support	Community, Docs	Email, Docs
Built for	Solo, Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise	Solo, Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise
Features NostalgiaDB 1/5 · Interactive Fiction Database 1/5
API access	✓	✓
Quest data	Not checked yet	—
Character data	Not checked yet	—
Item data	Not checked yet	—
Ability data	Not checked yet	—
Specs
Supported platforms	45 gaming platforms, including Super Nintendo, Sega Genesis/Mega Drive, NES, Atari 2600, 3DO, MAME, Atari 5200, and Atari 7800	Z-machine, TADS, Hugo, executable applications
Export formats	SQLite	JSON, iFiction XML, SQL database exports
Our review
Pros	Covers archives across 45 gaming platforms Offers natural-language search and regional variant data Provides GraphQL access and SQLite downloads	Free catalog with community editing, ratings, reviews, and lists HTTP APIs return JSON or iFiction XML for application access Periodic SQL exports support local analysis of catalog data
Cons	Focused on retro games rather than broad game coverage Downloads and some features require a free account Access is limited to web and API platforms	Catalogs metadata and links rather than storing the games themselves API access is intended for low-volume, user-driven applications Its scope is specialized to interactive fiction and text adventures
Our verdict	NostalgiaDB is a free, open-source database for discovering and researching classic video games. It is designed for retro gaming enthusiasts, researchers, and developers who need structured metadata rather than a general-purpose modern… Read the review →	Interactive Fiction Database (IFDB) is a community-maintained catalog for interactive-fiction and text-adventure games. It suits players who want searchable listings, ratings, member reviews, recommendations, polls, competitions, and… Read the review →

Strengths and trade-offs

• NostalgiaDB — where it wins

  • Covers archives across 45 gaming platforms
  • Offers natural-language search and regional variant data
  • Provides GraphQL access and SQLite downloads

  Where it doesn't

  • Focused on retro games rather than broad game coverage
  • Downloads and some features require a free account
  • Access is limited to web and API platforms

• Interactive Fiction Database — where it wins

  • Free catalog with community editing, ratings, reviews, and lists
  • HTTP APIs return JSON or iFiction XML for application access
  • Periodic SQL exports support local analysis of catalog data

  Where it doesn't

  • Catalogs metadata and links rather than storing the games themselves
  • API access is intended for low-volume, user-driven applications
  • Its scope is specialized to interactive fiction and text adventures

• NostalgiaDB8.2/10 · Free plan

  A focused, open-source catalog for researching and building with classic game data.

  Visit NostalgiaDBFull verdict →
• Interactive Fiction Database7.4/10 · Free plan

  A free, community-maintained database for discovering and working with interactive fiction.

  Visit siteFull verdict →