In recent years, interactive stories have been extensively advertised on social media and, because of this, it is safe to assume that some developers see them as cash cows. This is something that is confirmed by our experience. Throughout the testing process, we kept realizing that you have to pay in order to progress further. Since we are not very big fans of this sort of arrangement, we have definitely made sure that all of our top picks have as little of this as possible.

Of course, financial matters were not our only criteria. Quite the contrary! We also made sure that the games were fun, engaging, immersive, had a coherent storyline, and were simply great to spend time with.

Another important factor we had to bear in mind is the potential longevity of each story. Will it grab your attention for a day or two - or will it keep you glued to your screen for months? We do, after all, love long-term commitment when it comes to apps and games. No one-night-stands allowed.

No person ever sticks to just one genre. Even if horror is my personal fave, I will still dip into romance or even sci-fi at the drop of a hat. Keeping an open mind is essential for literary adventures. If you're going to explore the world of interactive stories, you might as well have more options. Instead of focusing on one premise, Chapters gives you an entire plethora of scenarios. Each beginning is unique, each plot twist, a proper surprise. What lies ahead? It is up to you to discover.

Once you launch the game, you will be faced with a choice of dozens of stories - romance, fantasy, sci-fi, young adult, comedy, and drama will be at your fingertips. No risque topic is off-limits, and each and every one of your choices will affect the overall outcome.

Be warned that some stories will include mature content but don't worry - there's nothing explicit nor truly vulgar involved. The creators have managed to walk a fine line between steamy and raunchy - always staying in the realm of the former. Still, you might want to keep it away from very young children - just in case.

From "Vampire Girl" or "Kidnapping the Princess," the app seems geared towards the more feminine half of the audience - until you dip into the world of sci-fi action, LGBT-themed romance, and proper thriller. Everyone's tastes will be covered by at least a couple of tales contained in this mini-library.

The game is easy to play, never confusing, but you may need to make some tough choices based on the number of diamonds (the main in-app currency) you own at any given time. Most of the play is centered around some witty dialogues, and your choices can make a huge difference in how the story unravels. We'll just say that each and every one of them is EXTREMELY engaging. The game gets updated twice per week (on Mondays and Thursdays), so you will always have new chapters to explore.

Of course, in-app purchases do exist, but they are in no way essential for your progress. If you decide to pay, the whole thing will set you back no less than $9.99 per month for the "chapters pass" subscription. Fortunately, this is absolutely NOT necessary, so feel free to stick to the free version. You'll have just as much fun.

With such an addictive and genuinely entertaining game, it is often difficult to become emotionally detached enough to judge it objectively. Chapters is truly a work of art, but it is perhaps in the visual department that it lags behind some other interactive tales. At the moment, the graphics leave a bit to be desired, and we do wish we could see more engaging animated sequences.

In addition, we can also touch on the topic of diamonds which are unevenly distributed throughout the game. As you will use them to "pay" for specific actions, it is best to be frugal and choose the easier path until the moment arrives when you simply have to spend a substantial amount in order to get the desired result.

Each game on our list has a somewhat different target audience - in terms of gender, age, and taste. OXENFREE is an odd one. At first, it seems that its core fan base should be teenagers who enjoy horror flicks. As time goes by, with its slight 1980s vibe and synth-pop soundtrack, it is easy to understand why even a slightly older crowd could also find this very interesting.

As we have mentioned when discussing our winning app, sticking to one genre is risky business. Giving users a lot of room for choice - and including as many topics as possible - is usually the safest way to go. Focusing exclusively on horror is practically sure to alienate some part of the public. Still, the creators of this interactive story were brave enough to stick to their guns. Commitment has paid off, and we can honestly say this is a true masterpiece.

The story is honed to perfection and fully free from any filler. Each subplot makes perfect sense and is weaved into the core story in such a way as to enrich it. Described as a "supernatural thriller about a group of friends who unwittingly open a ghostly rift," it allows you to explore the virtual yet surprisingly convincing Edwards Island. As time goes by, you will uncover the secrets of a disturbing past and peer into an even more sinister future.

The gameplay is perhaps a bit less straightforward than in the very dialogue-oriented Chapters. You will face more choices and have much greater control over how the story progresses. The mere fact that the creators focused on one tale means that they were able to craft it with great precision and dedication. The interface is extremely intuitive, which makes it easy to navigate.

Truly stunning visuals and a unique aesthetic guarantee an immersive experience. In addition, EVERYTHING is done in the form of a voice-over. It is really exciting to try something like this. Unfortunately, this comes at a cost - not monetary, but cost in the form of space the installation is likely to take. Standing at 1.18 GB, it is larger than any other interactive story we tested. This is perhaps the main reason why we didn't want to give it the top spot, as the size also brings with it a slight sense of lag often present in bulkier software. If it were a bit smaller, a bit faster, and contained a few additional stories - this would've been our winner indeed.

Have you ever dreamt about being the main character of your favorite TV show? Let's face it; sometimes, fiction is so much better than real life. Inhabiting the skin of an attractive protagonist who has an exceptionally exciting life would be such an amazing change. So why not try just that with this little interactive gem?

Tabou Stories is a game devoted to romance. Steamy, passionate, sometimes heartbreaking romance. We do, after all, all need a bit of spice and, when we can't get something out of this world - fiction is a good second choice. Such interactive stories would easily fit the bill of successors to 1970s and 1980s paperbacks - only better.

Here, you start by creating your own protagonist or alter-ego. Choose between hairstyles, beautiful outfits, carefully craft a character - very much like you or perhaps completely different - and let your imagination run wild. Everything is permitted.

Just be careful how you navigate the drama because, in Tabou Stories, the oddest twists and turns seem possible. It's not an exaggeration if we say that some came as a genuine surprise. What will you be in the forest of love - predator, pray - or roadkill? It's up to you. Make friends, enemies, and lovers but remember - each decision you make will affect your experience. Some may even come back to haunt you.

You can choose between a number of different tales, including Office Affairs, Bodyguard, The Auction, and Matchmaker are just some of the stories available. Chapters are updated weekly and the overall experience you will have with the game is likely to be easy, lighthearted, and immensely fun.

One thing that stood out was the fact that the stories offer a good deal of freedom. This includes quite a few choices that can stir your story in the direction of LGBT romance. Just like real life, Tabou Stories will let you decide how you want to play it.

Our only complaints would be the graphics that, much like those in Chapters, can be a tad static. In addition, you may need to spend around $7.99 if you want to fast-forward your way through some parts of the game but, if slow and steady is your way, you won't need to bother with it. Savor every moment and you will realize that this is one of the most immersive interactive stories out there.

The game seems engaging enough at first but, as you progress through the multi-faceted story, the intentional scarcity of gems (which are essential for play) becomes pretty apparent. In order to make another move, you will need to wait no less than 11 hours - or purchase gems. This makes us think that the game is probably in its later stages. It has been around for a while and is slowly transforming from an enjoyable pastime into a cash cow. At this point, even YouTube itself is sliding down this slippery slope, so we just have to accept this as an integral part of the market - and look elsewhere for something fresher.

Choices give you plenty of, eh, choices. You can customize character - from looks to hair and makeup - and start an adventure in the world of romance and mystery. The storyline even includes some detective work plus occasional elements of fantasy. This, of course, sounds promising enough, solid even but, once you actually start taking the game seriously - it very quickly goes downhill. It suffers from the same malady as Episode - namely an obvious need of the developers to ask you for money - every step of the way.

Contrary to what those who cannot stand reality television may think, this is actually a pretty cool idea that can also boast some very good execution. We don't have much to complain about - other than the game's somewhat narrow scope. Given its premise, it can get a bit predictable. In short - the franchise carries the game, not the other way around. It will be amazing for the fans of the show and Kim K. Otherwise, you will likely want to skip it.

Many interactive story apps tend to focus on romance and very little else. It is refreshing to find one that does away with it and instead plunges you into a proper detective story. Dark and engaging, it boasts a selection of video sequences that bring an extra dose of realism to the tale. Unfortunately, this seems like a game that was created a while ago and then left to its own devices. With slightly outdated mechanics and the absence of substantial updates - it has left us to question its longevity.

Creating a mix of romance and vampires, Maybe is reminiscent of Chapter. The level of quality, however, is nowhere near our winner. Predictable and not enticing enough, it simply pales in comparison. We did not feel inspired to keep playing beyond the first half an hour or so. Everything seemed slow-paced and rather dull. Some unexpected twists and turns could make this game so much better - especially since it already has some decent graphics and a cool soundtrack.

Less of a game and more of an interactive video platform, Eko offers TV shows with a twist. We can safely say that this is quite an ambitious project with no less than 10 different series currently in the works. It is a novel idea that, due to its budget limitations, still feels a bit incomplete. With a visionary investor, it could take off and prove some serious competition to the traditional formats. For now, it remains just a cool idea - and not much more.

Yet another one with a strong focus on romance... Yet another one that is fully predictable and not worth bothering with. The main reason we say this is the fact that the app barely includes any other elements beyond passion and heartbreak. There is no merging of genres, no unexpected twists, no odd ideas that could spice things up. This is just romance - take to its nauseating extreme - like a soap opera that has lost the plot seven seasons ago. If you're looking for a good interactive story, you can do better, so much better.