Hearoism on an iPhone, showing the transcript of a story in progress as the Dungeon Master and two characters speak

Hearoism

You speak. Reality bends.

Hearoism is a voice-driven fantasy adventure inspired by tabletop role-playing games. You can play hands-free while your phone stays in your pocket on your hike or commute.

Hearoism on an iPhone, showing the transcript of a story in progress as the Dungeon Master and two characters speak

You role play as the main character of a story. You might scheme with companions, bargain with thieves, pick fights or walk away from them. Your tale grows in the telling, as the other characters remember your actions, and the consequences of your decisions play out.

The telling is entirely through audio. There are distinct voices for the Dungeon Master (narrator) and the characters you meet, and sound effects like a radio theater show. You describe what your character does by simply speaking. This lets you play with just your headphones, keeping your phone in your pocket as you walk the dog, commute, or do the dishes.

Availability

New! — Try the Hearoism beta! My aim is for a small but complete iOS adventure to be generally available by the end of 2026.

Why?

Hearoism is meant to explore a new form of immersive, personal storytelling.

Humans are storytellers, and the tales we can tell change with our technology. From oratory to print, theater to radio, article to podcast, every author aspires to pull the audience into the story.

The authors of Choose Your Own Adventure books and branching television shows reached to make their stories interactive, but the gravity of the medium is inescapable. Every branch competes for a fixed amount of space, and all choice points and options must be pre-determined by the author.

Tabletop role-playing games broke through this barrier by having a human Dungeon Master in the loop. The DM gives players real agency and choice by adapting the world around their actions. The result is interactive, collaborative, and great fun.

Hearoism takes its inspiration and shape from this tradition. Do the lessons from tabletop games work in a more personal format? That question can only be answered by trying. Our first attempts will be quirky and imperfect.

So here is my attempt. May you find it fun and worth experiencing.

— Jared