The Secrets of Sylvan Gardens

An interactive fiction game filled with cozy fantasy, mystery, and romance.

6th Place - 31st Annual Interactive Fiction Competition (2025)

When you find yourself sleepwalking in the lush ornamental gardens of the Sylvan Villa, you must discover how to break the thrall of a mysterious trance.

You will be aided in your journey by the gardens' keepers: a gardener, a botanist, a librarian, and an enigmatic hermit. Form bonds of friendship or pursue a slow-burn romance as you roleplay, helping these companions with quests that draw you deeper into their individual stories.

The Secrets of Sylvan Gardens will transport you into an original cozy fantasy setting inspired by Italian Renaissance gardens and Greek mythology.

• A story shaped by your decisions, with over 260 variations on the ending.
• Illustrated with 19 original watercolor paintings.
• Scored with nine pieces of music by an award-winning classical composer.
• LGBTQ+ representation and four romance options with diverse genders.

If you enjoy this game, please consider leaving a rating here on itch.io and on IFDB.

About the Game

The Secrets of Sylvan Gardens is choice-based interactive fiction, which means that choices you make will propel you through the narrative and affect the way in which the story unfolds.

Length: This game may take anywhere from two to five hours to complete, but a typical playthrough averages three hours. It includes a prologue, six chapters, and an epilogue, with up to four optional interludes. The script is over 96k words, but you won't encounter all of that text in every playthrough.

Romance Options: Romance is completely optional. There are four romanceable characters: one female, two male, and one non-binary. All scenes are very light on spice (may include passionate kissing). Romances are exclusive.

In this game, friendship is equally important to romance! Depending on your choices, you may have opportunities to bond with all four characters.

Hidden attitude ratings for each character will impact which storylines become available to you as the game progresses. If you want a specific character to like you — for romance or friendship — just treat them with kindness, curiosity, and trust.

Content Warnings: See the game for a list of content warnings (blurred to prevent spoilers).

Behind the Game: Learn about the real-world inspirations behind the game.

A production of Lamp Post Projects. Written, illustrated, and scored by Nell. Coded in ink and powered by Lamp Post Ink Player. Playtested by Arthurianmaiden, Crypt-glitch, Peter M.J. Gross, Max Lich, oryndoll, Amanda Offord, John R., and Una.

This game does not include any AI-generated content.

Contact lamppostprojects@gmail.com with questions or comments.

Follow Lamp Post Projects on itch.io, Tumblr, and Patreon.

Copyright © 2026 Nell Shaw Cohen.