When you share a story with players, it existsas an HTML file that can be opened in any web browser, and doesn't requireplayers to install Twine themselves. It isn't a tool forplaying interactive narratives. You can't share it directly with other people, but you canimport stories, exportstories, and archive your entirelibrary. This is the passage that will bedisplayed first when someone begins playing it.1 An EPUB version of the print edition is also available at no cost, which can be read on many devices. The print version contains the same content as the web version, but is of course useful in classrooms, or when internet access is difficult or inconvenient. This Cookbook contains documentation, tips, and examples for using the non-linear story creation tool Twine. Proofing Formats A passage is a piece of contentthat players will experience at one moment in time as they navigate through astory. In order to use Twine most effectively, you should spend some time reading the documentation for the story format you're using. The "Style Markup" examples show a great breakdown of the different options per story format (Chapbook, Harlowe, SugarCube, and Snowman ). Instead of content appearing one way, it could be changed using a different story format. This is a very useful way to test individual passages and see their contents instead of having to navigate through a story. Installing Twine This reference also calls the people experiencing your work 'players,' but thisisn't official terminology by any means. But Twine needs a word for these things, and 'story' made the most sense whenTwine was first created more than a decade ago. Most people prefer to use it in installed form, but the browserversion exists for people in settings which make it difficult to installsoftware, like a classroom. When using the online version, the story will open in a new tab.This is not a URL to access the story!In Twine 2, links connect passages.Many Twine 2 projects begin with a story idea.When starting Twine 2, either the online or desktop version, it opens with the Story Listing.The rules for styling text are often very different between story formats.But of course Twine can beused to create more than just fiction, or even prose, with Twine. Story Formats# The bottom menu in the Passage View is the Story Menu.A story is made up of one or more passages.Twine calls the things you make with it stories.Passage links are not just connections between them, they are also hyperlinks between passages in a story.Forinformation on how to do this, please check your browser's documentation.This is where all stories are stored and can be accessed. But of course Twine can beused to create more than just fiction, or even prose, with Twine. Twine calls the things you make with it stories. The policy it enforces that if a week passes where you do not visit a web site,Safari will erase all of itsstorage.This means that if you do not use Twine for a week, everything you create in itwill be lost. Want to suggest a change or new example?# Aproofing format is different than a story format in that it's meant to help youproofread your stories before you share it with a larger audience.Changing the story format you use can be a time-consuming process because theyvary so much in their approach.Close the passage editor either with the Escape key, or by clicking ortapping the X in the upper-right corner.Because of this, the number of story formats tochoose from can be daunting.Most people prefer to use it in installed form, but the browserversion exists for people in settings which make it difficult to installsoftware, like a classroom.Now, story formats are more like dialects of the overall language of Twine along with their own visual changes. The latest version of Twine is 2.11.1, released 8 November 2025. Name this story Strange Encounter in Space and click on the "+Add" button. For this example, the story idea will be that the player is an astronaut exploring the galaxy. Twee is a plain-text format for Twine stories. Twine comes with one proofing format, called Paperthin, but others with morefeatures exist in the Twine community. Because of this, the number of story formats tochoose from can be daunting. Changing the story format you use can be a time-consuming process because theyvary so much in their approach. They provide additional ways for players to interactwith your story, like buttons or drop-down menus. And they offer the ability toadd conditional logic, variables, and other kinds of programming to your story.Twine comes with one proofing format, called Paperthin, but others with morefeatures exist in the Twine community.Twine also has special kinds of story formats called proofing formats.By default, a passage will have the content of Double-click this passage to edit it.(For continuing to edit, leave the tab open and Twine 2 will refresh it when the "Play" button is clicked again.)This reference also calls the people experiencing your work 'players,' but thisisn't official terminology by any means. Twine helps to edit a story, but whathappens once players actually open it in a web browser is the job of storyformats. The collection of stories stored in Twine is called the story library, or justlibrary for short. A story is made up of one or more passages. (Wait, what's a story format?) Connecting Passages# Clicking on the story will load a new passage. In Twine 2, links connect passages. The story can be played and the new tab safely closed when done. /stories/2f3e4f18-2bde-4213-b29b-08a1e368804c/play. You're only limitedby the storage capacity of where your stories are saved. There is no limit on the number of stories in your library. Or use the Show Story Librarymenu item in the View menu of Twine's main menu bar (not the top toolbar).This location can be changed. You can call them 'readers' or'interactors' or just 'people.' This reference will call thesethings 'stories,' but you can substitute 'game' or 'poem' or 'nonsense' andevery sentence you read will be just as true. Many Twine 2 projects begin with a story idea. Story formats are like game engines or small programming languages. And they offer the ability toadd conditional logic, variables, and other kinds of programming to your story. Twine is a tool for editing interactive narratives. The new story is now added to the list and the Passages View is opened automatically!Some story format developers also accept donations.An EPUB version of the print edition is also available at no cost, which can be read on many devices.Twine 2 automatically saves the passage when you close it!Twee is a plain-text format for Twine stories.You're only limitedby the storage capacity of where your stories are saved. Now, story formats are more like dialects of the overall language of Twine along with their own visual changes. Unlike the online version, the desktop version of Twine 2 will create a new file every time the "Play" button is clicked. Aproofing format is different than a story format in that it's meant to help youproofread your stories before you share it with a larger audience. This documentation calls the version of Twine you use directly in a browser"browser Twine" for short, and the version of Twine you install onto a computer"app Twine."This is a very useful way to test individual passages and see their contents instead of having to navigate through a story.They provide additional ways for players to interactwith your story, like buttons or drop-down menus.The policy it enforces that if a week passes where you do not visit a web site,Safari will erase all of itsstorage.This means that if you do not use Twine for a week, everything you create in itwill be lost.Like with testing from a single passage, this will open the story in Debug mode.The story can be played and the new tab safely closed when done.(Wait, what's a story format?)Return to the Passage View and double-click (or tap, on mobile) the "Could this really be Earth!?" passage. When using the online version, the story will open in a new tab. It allows for changing details about the story, navigating back to the Story Listing, and, for right now, playing a story. Close the passage editor either with the Escape key, or by clicking ortapping the X in the upper-right corner. Double-clicking (or tapping, on mobile) will open the passage for editing. The first passage added in Twine 2 is called "Untitled Passage". This time, instead of clicking on "Play", place the cursor over the passage in the Passage View. Passage links are not just connections between them, they are also hyperlinks between passages in a story. In either a new tab or the existing play tab (depending on version or if closed previously), the story will update. In the background of editing the passage, Twine 2 will create a new passage called "Could this really be Earth!?". With the passage closed, it's now time to play it! To create a new story, click on the "+Story" button on the right-hand sidebar. Before you create your first story using Twine 2, please consult the Where are my stories saved? You don't need to use Twee to build a story with Twine, but Twine can exportstories to Twee format for use with other tools. Twee files are not playable bythemselves, but are easier to edit and view in a text editor than the HTML filesthat Twine creates. This will open the story from the starting passage.The print version contains the same content as the web version, but is of course useful in classrooms, or when internet access is difficult or inconvenient.In either a new tab or the existing play tab (depending on version or if closed previously), the story will update.In the background of editing the passage, Twine 2 will create a new passage called "Could this really be Earth!?".Starting with version 2.0, the Twine Cookbook is created using mkdocs with the Material theme and plugin set.This reference will call thesethings 'stories,' but you can substitute 'game' or 'poem' or 'nonsense' andevery sentence you read will be just as true.Click on the triangle ("Test story starting here") button.For this example, the story idea will be that the player is an astronaut exploring the galaxy. While using passages are a part of all Twine authoring, there are different collections of rules and styling options called story formats. Twine also has special kinds of story formats called proofing formats. Twine includes four story formats when you download it, and it is possible toadd other story formats that people in thecommunity have made. The rules for styling text are often very different between story formats. The main differences between story formats come in how they handle macros. Starting with version 2.0, the Twine Cookbook is created using mkdocs with the Material theme and plugin set. Harlowe and Chapbook were created to be more user-friendly in many ways. In the lower, right-hand corner, click on the "Test" button. Clicking and dragging either passage shows that they are connected. (For continuing to edit, leave the tab open and Twine 2 will refresh it when the "Play" button is clicked again.) Testing a Passage# Twine also has special kinds of story formats called proofing formats.Or use the Show Story Librarymenu item in the View menu of Twine's main menu bar (not the top toolbar).This location can be changed.It isn't a tool forplaying interactive narratives.Double-clicking (or tapping, on mobile) will open the passage for editing.This sounds like an urban myth or a ploy to get people to put Twine on theirHome Screens, but it's unfortunately true.But Twine needs a word for these things, and 'story' made the most sense whenTwine was first created more than a decade ago.While using passages are a part of all Twine authoring, there are different collections of rules and styling options called story formats.Twine helps to edit a story, but whathappens once players actually open it in a web browser is the job of storyformats.Before you create your first story using Twine 2, please consult the Where are my stories saved? Some story format developers also accept donations. This will open the story from the starting passage. Like with testing from a single passage, this will open the story in Debug mode. Click on the triangle ("Test story starting here") button. Return to the Passage View and double-click (or tap, on mobile) the "Could this really be Earth!?" passage. Twine 2 automatically saves the passage when you close it! By default, a passage will have the content of Double-click this passage to edit it. The new story is now added to the list and the Passages View is opened automatically! This is where all stories are stored and can be accessed. When starting Twine 2, either the online or desktop version, it opens with the Story Listing. This sounds like an urban myth or a ploy to get people to put Twine on theirHome Screens, but it's unfortunately true. Forinformation on how to do this, please check your browser's documentation. This documentation calls the version of Twine you use directly in a browser"browser Twine" for short, and the version of Twine you install onto a computer"app Twine." Start with the Code of Conduct and then review the steps in the Contributing guide. This is not a URL to access the story! Twine 2 will the open up the story as a HTML file in a web browser. Click on the "Play" button in the bottom, right-hand corner. The bottom menu in the Passage View is the Story Menu.