Worlds of Tolbek
15 story worlds, one set of rules. One world is free whole; every other world has a free first expedition.
Home Valley
Home Valley: When Something Goes Wrong
standalone game · free · start here
When something goes wrong in the valley, the neighbours set out, with the Badger when they can. Every stamp ★ in the Valley Passport is a job well done.
Pirates
Black Swallow: The Last Free Passage
The royal fleet has closed the harbours. Every ★ is a piece of the star chart of a secret way through the blockade.
Drowned City
The Light Smugglers
The sea has flooded the city, leaving only towers and roofs above the water. The Lamplighters’ Guild lights the way only for licensed ships. You have no licence, so every light ✦ on your way is yours to light.
Free Crew
Nine Sails
You are a free crew with no captain: every decision is a vote on deck. The harbour gates close soon, and only a whole crew that can pay the toll may enter. Every coin ◎ is payment for a job at sea.
Caravan
Caravan
The caravan sets out across the desert for the oasis, stage by stage: the station, the depot, the camp. The wagon keeps to the main road; side trips are on foot. Every task done ★ is a stretch of road behind you, and the whole caravan must reach the oasis with the wagon.
Space Station
Station Polaris: Return to Earth
A meteor swarm has hit the station. Mission control clears the return once you gather the parts ⚙ of the return module and everyone meets there with the pod.
Sky Mail
The Dragonfly over the Cloud Islands
High in the clouds hang islands, and only airships carry their mail. A storm is coming. Every parcel ✉ must reach its address, and the Dragonfly with her whole crew must reach the Main Post Office before it closes.
Lost Jungle
The Lost Jungle: Eggs under the Volcano
An expedition has found a jungle where dinosaurs survived. The volcano is waking up. Every egg ⚪ you carry up to the plateau is a hatchling saved.
Mountain Rescue
Mountain Rescue: Storm on the Ridge
A snowstorm has broken over the ridge and the cable car has stopped. The helicopter lands once flares ✧ show it the way. When the whole patrol and the snowcat meet at the helipad, you fly out.
Silver Mine
The Silver Mine: Last Cage Up
A dam has burst in the old mine and the water is rising. The only way up is the winding cage, and its engine runs on crystals ❖ from the mine. When there are enough and the whole gang with the cart is at the cage, you ride up.
Night Tram
Night Tram: The Case of the Missing Bell
The town bell has vanished from the belfry and the night trams run only until midnight. The Evening News team collects clues ✎. With enough of them, and everyone back at the office with the tram, the morning edition goes out.
Dragon Hills
Dragon Hills: Runes of the Glass Mountain
An endless winter is closing in on the hills. Only the runes ✶ scattered across the land open the Gate of the Glass Mountain. A band of young dragon keepers gathers them and must reach the gate together with the dragon Ember.
Botanical Garden
The Botanical Garden: The Night before the Frost
The first frost is coming. The collection of rare plants must go into the great greenhouse, and so must the gardeners with their cart. Every seedling ✿ you bring in survives the winter.
National Park
The Great Animal Count
The rains are coming and the rivers will cut the park off. Before then the patrol must photograph every rare animal ◉ for the count and meet at the rangers’ base with the jeep.
Firefighters
Firefighters: Night at the Fairground
A fire has broken out at the fairground at night. The firefighters lead people from the rides to the main gate. Every rescued person ✚ counts, and at the end the whole unit with the engine must be at the gate.
The back-of-the-box catalogue with maps and scenarios is in the game.