Best Interactive Fiction Database Alternatives in 2026
The top Interactive Fiction Database alternatives are MobyGames, RAWG and IGDB: 13 game databases our editors would look at instead of Interactive Fiction Database, in our ranking order.
Interactive Fiction Database: A free, community-maintained database for discovering and working with interactive fiction. Where it falls short: catalogs metadata and links rather than storing the games themselves.
Switching from Interactive Fiction Database? For most game databases buyers the best Interactive Fiction Database alternative is MobyGames, built for broad game research with API and exports. On a budget, RAWG starts at $149/mo.
Why People Look for an Interactive Fiction Database Alternative
- 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
- No quest data — 1 of the alternatives below has it
- No character data — 3 of the alternatives below have it
Quick Picks by What You Need
- Best overallMobyGames9.4
Broad game research with API and exports
Visit MobyGames - Lowest priceRAWG9.2
Paid plans from $149/mo
Visit RAWG - Best free optionMobyGames9.4
Has a free plan
Visit MobyGames - Best for quest dataRaiderZ Game Database6.8
Quest data (Interactive Fiction Database: no)
Visit RaiderZ Game Database
All 13 Interactive Fiction Database Alternatives, Ranked
Advertiser disclosure: iTechGuides is reader-supported. Vendors can pay for top positions in our rankings and for a place on other products' pages, and we may earn a commission when you click some links. Bought places stand at the number bought; this page and our disclosure say so. Paying vendors may get a fuller, more detailed review from our editors, and that review can change their score. How we rank.
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Best forBroad game research with API and exports
- Better than Interactive Fiction Database:
- Editor score 9.4 vs 7.4
A broad game catalog with platform records, research tools, exports, and API access.
- API access
9.4/10★★★★★Visit MobyGames -
Best forRich game metadata and recommendations
- Better than Interactive Fiction Database:
- Editor score 9.2 vs 7.4
A broad game-data API with strong free access and a $149 monthly Business tier.
- API access
9.2/10★★★★★Visit RAWG -
Best forFree structured game data via API
- Better than Interactive Fiction Database:
- Character data
- Editor score 9.1 vs 7.4
Free structured game data for browsing, research, and API-powered applications.
- Character data
- API access
9.1/10★★★★★Visit IGDB -
Best forOrganizing and launching a personal library
- Better than Interactive Fiction Database:
- Editor score 8.5 vs 7.4
A broad game library manager with storefront imports, emulator support, and controller-focused browsing.
8.5/10★★★★☆Visit LaunchBox -
Best forBoard and tabletop game databases
- Better than Interactive Fiction Database:
- Editor score 8.4 vs 7.4
A free web database for discovering, tracking, rating, and discussing tabletop games.
- API access
8.4/10★★★★☆Visit BoardGameGeek -
Best forOpen retro-game catalog and downloads
- Better than Interactive Fiction Database:
- Editor score 8.2 vs 7.4
A focused, open-source catalog for researching and building with classic game data.
- API access
8.2/10★★★★☆Visit NostalgiaDB -
Best forCommercial game metadata pipelines
- Better than Interactive Fiction Database:
- Editor score 7.9 vs 7.4
A structured, API-delivered game database for commercial metadata workflows.
- API access
7.9/10★★★★☆Visit GameDNA -
Best forVisual-novel records and character data
- Better than Interactive Fiction Database:
- Character data
A free, deeply structured reference for visual-novel metadata and personal lists.
- Character data
- API access
7.3/10★★★★☆Visit VNDB -
Best forAmiga and classic-computer game research
A deep free resource for researching Amiga and related classic-computer games.
7.1/10★★★★☆Visit Lemon Amiga -
Best forRaiderZ item and quest research
- Better than Interactive Fiction Database:
- Quest data
- Character data
- Item data
A free web database for researching RaiderZ content in detail.
- Quest data
- Item data
- Character data
6.8/10★★★☆☆Visit site -
Best forYu-Gi-Oh! card search and deck building
A capable free card-search and deck-building hub with API access and optional Premium extras.
- API access
6.5/10★★★☆☆Visit YGOPRODeck -
Best forOfficial Yu-Gi-Oh! card and deck records
A free official reference for searching cards, managing decks, and tracking lists.
6.0/10★★★☆☆Visit Yu-Gi-Oh! -
Best forPokémon TCG card filtering
- Better than Interactive Fiction Database:
- Item data
- Ability data
A free, detailed web database for finding and filtering Pokémon TCG cards.
- Ability data
- Item data
6.0/10★★★☆☆Visit Pokémon TCG DB
Interactive Fiction Database Alternatives: Common Questions
What is the best alternative to Interactive Fiction Database?
MobyGames: #1 in our Game Databases ranking, with an editor score of 9.4 out of 10. A broad game catalog with platform records, research tools, exports, and API access.
Is there a free alternative to Interactive Fiction Database?
Yes. MobyGames, RAWG, IGDB, LaunchBox and BoardGameGeek have a free plan or a free tier (12 of the 13 alternatives on this page).
Why do people look for Interactive Fiction Database alternatives?
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.
How do I switch from Interactive Fiction Database?
Back up your world, configs and mods from Interactive Fiction Database's panel, or download the server folder over SFTP. Create the server on the new host with the same game version (and the same modpack or loader, if you use one). Upload the world and config files, start the server once and check that the mods and plugins load. Share the new address with your players or point your domain at it, then cancel Interactive Fiction Database after a test session.
How to Switch from Interactive Fiction Database
- Back up your world, configs and mods from Interactive Fiction Database's panel, or download the server folder over SFTP.
- Create the server on the new host with the same game version (and the same modpack or loader, if you use one).
- Upload the world and config files, start the server once and check that the mods and plugins load.
- Share the new address with your players or point your domain at it, then cancel Interactive Fiction Database after a test session.
Interactive Fiction Database vs Each Alternative
| # | Tool | Free plan | Paid from | API access | Supported platforms | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8 | Interactive Fiction Database | Yes | Free | Yes | Z-machine, TADS, Hugo, executable applications | 7.4 |
| 1 | MobyGames | Yes | Yes | Computer, console, arcade | 9.4 | |
| 2 | RAWG | Yes | $149/mo | Yes | PC, Xbox One, iOS, Nintendo DS, Linux, PlayStation 3, PS Vita, Wii, Game Boy Advance, SNES, Apple II, Atari 5200, Atari 8-bit, Atari XEGS, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series S/X, Android, Nintendo DSi | 9.2 |
| 3 | IGDB | Yes | Free | Yes | PC (Microsoft Windows), Mac, iOS, Android, PlayStation, Xbox, Nintendo Switch, Web browser, Arcade | 9.1 |
| 4 | LaunchBox | Yes | $30 one-time | 8.5 | ||
| 5 | BoardGameGeek | Yes | Free | Yes | board games, card games, tabletop games, wargames, traditional games | 8.4 |
| 6 | NostalgiaDB | Yes | Free | Yes | 45 gaming platforms, including Super Nintendo, Sega Genesis/Mega Drive, NES, Atari 2600, 3DO, MAME, Atari 5200, and Atari 7800 | 8.2 |
| 7 | GameDNA | No | Yes | arcade, console, PC | 7.9 | |
| 8 | The Visual Novel Database | Yes | Free | Yes | 7.3 | |
| 9 | Lemon Amiga | Yes | Free | No | Amiga, MS-DOS, Atari ST | 7.1 |
| 10 | RaiderZ Game Database | Yes | Free | 6.8 | ||
| 11 | YGOPRODeck | Yes | €4.99/mo | Yes | TCG, OCG, Speed Duel, Rush Duel, GOAT | 6.5 |
| 12 | Yu-Gi-Oh! Card Database | Yes | Free | Yu-Gi-Oh! Trading Card Game (TCG) | 6.0 | |
| 13 | Pokémon TCG Card Database | Yes | Free | Pokémon Trading Card Game | 6.0 |
Head-to-Head
- Interactive Fiction Database vs MobyGames
- Interactive Fiction Database vs RAWG
- Interactive Fiction Database vs IGDB
- Interactive Fiction Database vs LaunchBox
- Interactive Fiction Database vs BoardGameGeek
- Interactive Fiction Database vs NostalgiaDB
Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026
Last updated · How we research and update