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CHYOA: review of the interactive erotic stories site
chyoa.com
Review checked on
- Reading
- Free
- Community
At a CHYOA chapter's ending, you pick which version of the story to follow. More than 26,000 stories and around 1.27 million chapters turn erotica into branching adventures, sometimes with items to collect and a game to save. You can read most stories without an account, and every feature is free.
CHYOA
chyoa.com
| Type | Branching interactive fiction, written by many hands |
|---|---|
| Library | 26,022 stories in search and 1,267,149 chapters on the homepage |
| Modes | Public, moderated by default, or private |
| Sections | 26, plus filters for point of view, depth, date and feature |
| Languages | Ten languages in the search filter plus Other, English far ahead |
| Features | Story map, customisable stories, game mode with inventory and saves, polls |
| Free or paid | Free, most stories readable without registration, advertising and donations. Account needed for maps and saves between visits |
| Rules | Underage characters in erotic contexts and excessive violence rejected, mature creatures able to consent. At least 250 words of opening story, which can span chapters |
Stories that branch as you read
CHYOA hosts stories written by multiple contributors. The opening chapter offers possible continuations, which can each branch again. You can return to an earlier decision and explore the route you missed.
Authors choose how to accept contributions through three story modes:
- Public: new chapters appear immediately.
- Moderated: the author or their reviewers approve additions, the default setting.
- Private: only selected collaborators can write.
You can follow a plot by one author or seek out collaborative projects.
Finding your way through chapters
Search filters stories by subject, language, date, point of view and depth, meaning how many chapters you can follow along one path. Trending, Deep Stories and Many Paths highlight active stories, long routes and plots with plenty of choices.
A story page shows contributors, chapters and branches. Once you start reading, links at the end of each chapter offer continuations. Back returns to the previous chapter, while Start Over takes you to the beginning.
Using the story map
The map shows how a story's branches connect. You need an account for it, as you do for favorites, bookmarks, comments and author follows. A free account helps you keep track of reading across several visits.
Custom stories and playable adventures
A customizable story uses details you select, such as a name or pronouns, throughout its text. You can find these stories with a search filter.
Game mode
Game mode remembers collected items, decisions and character attributes. A particular action can unlock a choice, and a chapter's text can change with your playthrough.
You can try it without an account. To keep a save between visits, you need free registration. Authors can build these adventures with random draws, dice and puzzles.
Chapter polls also let you vote for the continuation you would like to read.
Free stories and reading tools
CHYOA has no paid subscription: stories, maps and game mode are free, although some features require an account. Advertising and donations fund the site. A donation supports its operation without unlocking additional stories.
| CHYOA | Literotica | Lush Stories | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Format | Branching stories | Stories, audio, poetry | Stories, forum, groups, chat room |
| Library | Over 26,000 stories | Over 900,000 English texts | Around 90,800 texts |
| Reading | Free, some stories need an account | Free, no account | Free library |
| Paid plan | None | None | Gold and Platinum |
Contributing a chapter
You need an account to contribute. A new story starts as a draft and requires approval before publication. Its opening must contain at least 250 words of actual story, which can span several chapters.
CHYOA rejects underage characters in erotic contexts and excessive violence. Imaginary creatures must be mature enough and able to consent, a principle called the Harkness test. You need the original author's permission to republish someone else's text.
Strengths and weaknesses
Strengths
- Replayable plots with different choices.
- Story maps included with a free account.
- Custom details and game mode with saves.
- Most stories readable without registration.
Weaknesses
- Some branches change tone or end without a continuation.
- Limited choice outside English.
- Advertising while you read.
The best alternatives to CHYOA
Lush Stories
An erotica library with groups, a forum and contests that bring readers and writers together.
- Reading
- Free
- Community
Literotica
A large library of reader-written erotica, with topic rankings, audio stories and eight languages.
- Reading
- Free
- Community
Frequently asked questions
- Does CHYOA have stories in other languages?
- Yes. The filter covers ten languages, including French and Spanish, plus an Other option. The smaller language collections have limited choice, but you can use the filter to leave English results out.
Verdict
Who it suits
- Exploring several outcomes of one plot
- Reading adventures with items and saved games
- Adding a chapter to another member's story
Who should skip it
- Reading one continuous text in a single sitting
- Finding a large collection in other languages
Taking a different turn in a familiar plot is where CHYOA is most enjoyable. You can discover a story without registration, then make a free account when you want its map or a saved game. Lists of deeper stories and plots with many paths help you find something you will want to return to.
Replaying plots and using the game tools make CHYOA a four out of five option. You can customize some stories and return to a saved game, though the language filter offers limited choice if you do not read English.