Depression Quest

Depression Quest
Developer(s)	The Quinnspiracy, Patrick Lindsey
Publisher(s)	The Quinnspiracy
Writer(s)	Zoë Quinn, Patrick Lindsey
Composer(s)	Isaac Schankler
Engine	Twine[1]
Platform(s)	Browser, Windows, OS X, Linux
Release	February 14, 2013
Genre(s)	Interactive fiction, Electronic literature
Mode(s)	Single-player

Depression Quest is a 2013 interactive fiction game dealing with the subject of depression. It was developed by Zoë Quinn using the Twine engine, with writing by Quinn and Patrick Lindsey, and music by Isaac Schankler. It was first released for the web on February 14, 2013, and for Steam on August 11, 2014. The game tells the story of a person suffering from depression and their attempts to deal with their condition. It was created to foster a greater understanding of depression.^[2] Depression Quest can be played for free, and has a pay-what-you-want pricing model. The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline receives part of the proceeds.

Depression Quest was praised by critics for its portrayal of depression and its educational value. The game was noted for diverging from mainstream uses of video games as a medium. Depression Quest received backlash from some gamers who disliked its departure from typical game formats and from other gamers who opposed "political" intrusions into gamer culture. Quinn received threats and harassment from people who disapproved of the game. False allegations that the game had received a positive review from a journalist in a relationship with Quinn around the time of the game's Steam release triggered the start of the Gamergate harassment campaign.