Knights of San Francisco is an incredible achievement in interactive fiction. It’s a text-based RPG that proves you don't need high-end graphics to create a visceral and immersive world. Set in a post-apocalyptic 'fantasy' version of San Francisco, the writing is sharp, atmospheric, and often quite brutal. Every combat encounter is described with a level of choreography that makes you feel every blow.
The game is short but impactful. It feels more like a well-crafted novella where you hold the reins. The mechanics—managing food, stamina, and sanity—add a layer of tension that makes your choices feel heavy. While some might find the RNG (random number generation) frustrating in combat, the ability to rewind choices means you're never unfairly punished. It’s a premium, polished experience that every fan of RPGs or speculative fiction should play.
Available on: iPhone, iPad, iPod
Version 1.3.8Fri Aug 08 2025
Added required information on the game's age rating and accessibility features.
Things to know before you buy:
* This is a short game: about 90 minutes.
* The background music is anything but medieval. This is by design.
* It’s all a bit weird.
—
Explore what remains of the ancient city of San Francisco and experience dynamic combat in this RPG text game.
What if goblins, ogres, and dragons weren't imagined? What if our ancestors were, unwittingly, foretelling the future? Find yourself in that future, centuries from now, among the ruins of what was once the 21st century – where these terrifying creatures roam freely…
Heavily inspired by modern tabletop RPGs like Dungeon World, this game puts you in the shoes of a young necromancer on a quest. Battle monsters, raise the dead, and explore what remains of the ancient city of San Francisco.
Features:
* Dynamic Combat: Simulated to the level of individual body parts. Cleave off someone’s leg, take it, and bash it over their head! A Natural Language Generation system explains what's happening to you in plain English.
* Make Your Choices with Caution: Every action has consequences! Make a mistake in battle and you could lose recruits in your party.
* A Living, Breathing World: Lots of the text isn't pre-written, but generated. The world continues on without you.
* Quick Gameplay: Hop right into the fray! Experience automatic saving and no loading screens.
This game is a labor of love of a single writer-programmer, Filip Hracek, and a single illustrator, Alec Webb. It is relatively short, and can be finished in about 90 minutes.
The gameplay is closer to tabletop role playing games than to traditional computer RPGs. Instead of presenting you with numbers and graphics, the game tells you what's happening, the same way a dungeon master would. Things are still meticulously tracked in the background, but there are no big tables to look at or tactical maps to read.
Requires iOS 12.0 or later. Compatible with iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch.Things to know before you buy:
* This is a short game: about 90 minutes.
* The background music is anything but medieval. This is by design.
* It’s all a bit weird.
—
Explore what remains of the ancient city of San Francisco and experience dynamic combat in this RPG text game.
What if goblins, ogres, and dragons weren't imagined? What if our ancestors were, unwittingly, foretelling the future? Find yourself in that future, centuries from now, among the ruins of what was once the 21st century – where these terrifying creatures roam freely…
Heavily inspired by modern tabletop RPGs like Dungeon World, this game puts you in the shoes of a young necromancer on a quest. Battle monsters, raise the dead, and explore what remains of the ancient city of San Francisco.
Features:
* Dynamic Combat: Simulated to the level of individual body parts. Cleave off someone’s leg, take it, and bash it over their head! A Natural Language Generation system explains what's happening to you in plain English.
* Make Your Choices with Caution: Every action has consequences! Make a mistake in battle and you could lose recruits in your party.
* A Living, Breathing World: Lots of the text isn't pre-written, but generated. The world continues on without you.
* Quick Gameplay: Hop right into the fray! Experience automatic saving and no loading screens.
This game is a labor of love of a single writer-programmer, Filip Hracek, and a single illustrator, Alec Webb. It is relatively short, and can be finished in about 90 minutes.
The gameplay is closer to tabletop role playing games than to traditional computer RPGs. Instead of presenting you with numbers and graphics, the game tells you what's happening, the same way a dungeon master would. Things are still meticulously tracked in the background, but there are no big tables to look at or tactical maps to read.












Knights of San Francisco is a premium text-based RPG that blends classic fantasy with a post-apocalyptic future. Explore a fantastical tower built on the ruins of San Francisco. With deep, choreographed combat descriptions and meaningful resource management (food, stamina, and sanity), every decision matters. A short, polished, and beautifully written interactive experience.
Deeply Atmospheric Writing
Choreographed Combat Scenes
Resource Management Mechanics
Choice-Driven Narrative
Premium, Ad-Free Experience
Some encounters will drain your sanity faster than your health. If your sanity gets too low, your combat effectiveness drops significantly—rest when you can.
The game uses a D&D-style system under the hood. Pay attention to the descriptions of your enemies; they often hint at vulnerabilities you can exploit in your next choice.
No, you can easily reload your previous choice if an encounter goes poorly, allowing you to explore different outcomes.