Fallen London: Kind of dark, but that's cause you live underground

Fabricated by Failbetter games, Fallen London is a text based browser RPG. Having played quite a few text RPGs myself, Fallen London is similar yet quite different to Zork and the like. Instead of inputing commands, London simply has you click to succeed. The story in this game is also far more important than in other TRPGs.

Long ago, the city of London and all the people in it were carried underground by a huge swarm of bats. Now, as the game itself puts it, "Immortality is cheap, and death is merely an inconvenience," due to the otherworldly state London has become. Your character has somehow found a way underground to the 'Neath, is captured, and put in prison. You must now escape and start working on the four qualities that will allow you to become 'a person of some importance,' namely your dangerous, shadowy, watchful, and persuasive attributes. The entire game revolves around these elements. 

iPhone app

Every time you want to do anything, you must click on an action that has some percentage chance of succeeding. example, If had dangerous quality 21, and my chance of succeeding in a fight against a professional wrestler was 72%, I might decided to chance it. If I succeed, my dangerous will increase, and I might even earn an item. Items are earned through success and losses, and can be bought and sold at the Bazaar. Equipping some items increases specified attributes. Other actions require an adequate level attribute AND enough of an item, so there is some grinding involved at a later part of the game.

"Far and away the best browser game of today. Why? Flavour and Story."   

 -The New Yorker

For you extroverts, there is an IRL social aspect to Fallen London. You and your friends can communicate and interact in-game by playing chess, doing something potentially dangerous, or pickpocketing for fun.

You can register a free account at fallenlondon.storynexus.com, or download the (also free) app from the app store. The app isn't very refined yet, as there are some bugs and long loading times. However, Failbetter has announced that improvements are coming soon!
As of now, the browser edition is better when you have a computer handy, and the app is more convenient for mobile devices.

Amazing story, amazing game. Highly recommended, seeing as making an account is as easy as a 100% Watchful challenge. I'll see you in London!

~Daniel