Getting started

What is Orpheus?

A story game for adults, played like a visual novel. An AI game master sets each scene, plays every character you meet, and answers whatever you choose or type. You decide the world, the tone, and who your character is; the story grows from there.

How do I get an account?

Orpheus is in early access, so new accounts may be invite-only: join the waitlist on the home page and we'll email you when it's your turn. To sign up, enter a name, email, and password, confirm you're 18 or older, and accept the Terms of Service and Privacy Policy. Then open the link in the verification email to finish. If the sign-in screen offers Continue with Discord, you can use that instead.

How do I set up my first campaign?

A short setup walks you through it. First the world: a campaign name, what it's about, its genre, tone, and setting, anything the game master should keep in mind (themes you want, things to avoid), and how challenging it should feel. You can also start from a preset world and edit it. Nothing has to be perfect.

How do I make my character?

Next comes your character: a name, then as much as you want to share about who they are, what they are, what they do, how they present and their pronouns, and where they come from. Type freely; the suggestions are only there to help.

How does my character get a portrait?

Subscribers can open Portrait Studio and generate portraits from the details you gave, or from a reference image you upload (PNG, JPG, or WEBP, up to 25 MB). Free accounts choose a portrait from a gallery of ready-made character art.

Which languages does Orpheus support?

Orpheus is available in English.

How play works

What is a turn?

Each time you act, the game master answers with the next beat of the story: narration, dialogue, and what you can do next. One action and its answer is one turn.

How do choices work?

Most beats end with a few suggested choices. Pick one to act. Some actions call for a dice roll, and the result shapes what happens next.

Can I type my own action?

On the web, switch the dialogue box from choices to typing and describe what you do in your own words. The game master works with whatever you write. The mobile app uses choices only.

Can I interact with things in a scene?

Yes. Some scenes mark objects you can interact with: select one to Look at it, Use it, or Take it, and containers can be opened. Some characters can also be taken aside to talk privately.

What is Session Zero?

Every new campaign opens with Session Zero: a short conversation with the game master about your character and the kind of story you want, before the adventure starts.

Can I look back at earlier scenes?

Yes. Open the history from the dialogue box to revisit earlier scenes in your story.

How do I switch or start campaigns?

When you open Orpheus you land on your campaigns. Continue the latest one, pick another, rename or delete one, or start a new campaign. While playing, the campaign menu at the top has the same options.

Free and paid

What's free?

Free accounts get 10 story turns a day and 1 campaign. Your free turns reset 24 hours after your first turn of the day. Session Zero, recaps, and turns the game starts on its own don't use them up, within a daily cap.

What is Ink?

Ink is what paid play runs on. A story turn costs 1 Ink, voice narration 2, music 10, and a generated image 20. Ink has no cash value and can't be transferred.

What do subscriptions include?

Each plan refills your Ink every month, lets you start more than one campaign, and unlocks voice narration, music, and generated images.

• Traveler: 500 Ink a month for $9.99
• Legend: 2,500 Ink a month for $19.99
• Demigod: 10,000 Ink a month for $29.99

Not ready to subscribe? A one-time intro bundle adds 100 Ink for $1.99.

How do I change or cancel my plan?

Open Settings, then General, and choose Manage Billing to update your payment method, switch plans, or cancel.

Can I get a refund?

Payments are generally non-refundable, but we review good-faith requests for duplicate charges, technical failures, or accidental purchases. Email support@orpheus.gg with your account email and the transaction details.

Troubleshooting

The game master hasn't answered.

A turn usually takes a few moments. If nothing arrives, refresh the page: each scene is saved as soon as it's written, so you'll come back to where the story really is. Only one turn runs at a time per campaign, so if you're playing in two tabs, close one and wait a moment before trying again. Ink spent on a turn that fails without delivering a scene is returned automatically.

A scene has no artwork.

On a free account, scenes use backgrounds from a library of ready-made art matched to where you are; when nothing fits, you'll see a plain backdrop. Session Zero always uses a plain backdrop. On a paid plan, art is painted for your story and can take a little while to arrive; if it fails, the scene keeps a plain backdrop. Images that don't pass our content checks are never shown.

A character's portrait won't appear.

Portraits are drawn in the background and can take a little while. If one can't be made, the character shows Portrait unavailable with a Try again button.

I can't hear anything.

Background music plays on every plan; voiced narration and character voices come with a subscription. Browsers keep a page silent until you interact with it, so click or tap in the game once. Then check Settings, then Audio: master, dialogue, and music volume are saved per browser, so a new browser or device starts with its own levels. Also make sure the tab and your device aren't muted.

I can't sign in.

Make sure you've opened the link in your verification email; the sign-in screen can send a new one. If you've forgotten your password, choose Forgot password? on the sign-in screen. If you're on the waitlist, you can create an account once your invite arrives.

I see “Something went wrong”.

Choose Try again, or refresh the page. If it keeps happening, contact us and include the reference code shown under the message; it helps us find exactly what went wrong.

Privacy and content

Who can use Orpheus?

Orpheus is for adults 18 and older.

What content is allowed?

Stories can go to dark places, but some content is never allowed, including sexual content involving minors, non-consensual sexual content, sexualized imagery of real people, harassment, and instructions for real-world violence. The Terms of Service and Content & Safety Policy have the full rules.

What if the AI writes something it shouldn't?

AI output can be wrong or inappropriate. Open Settings, then Account, and use Report generated content to send the current scene to moderation.

What happens to my data?

Your messages and story context are sent to our AI providers so the game master can respond. We don't sell personal information. The Privacy Policy explains what we collect and why; for privacy requests, email privacy@orpheus.gg.

Your account

How do I delete my account?

Open Settings, then Account, and choose Delete account. Type the confirmation phrase (and your password, if you sign in with email) to permanently delete your account and all of its campaigns, characters, and messages. This can't be undone.

How do I delete a single campaign?

On your campaigns screen, choose Delete on the campaign and confirm. That campaign's story and characters are removed permanently.

Can I control the emails I get?

Settings, then General, has email preferences: opt in to product news, or silence non-critical alerts. Password resets and billing receipts always arrive.

I forgot my password.

Choose Forgot password on the sign-in screen and we'll email you a reset link.

Contact us