We’re proud to announce our recent collaboration with Scuola Holden, Italy’s premier storytelling academy. Together, we launched an Open Call that invited students to explore the world of AudioGames — and to help shape it from the inside.

PlayNook’s "For Kids" Month brings a collection of family-friendly AudioGames designed for kids and parents to enjoy together. Featuring interactive storytelling, these games blend the best of audiobooks, stories and RPG adventures. With new releases including Offside Life, Conducting Masters, and Pet Therapy, players can experience exciting narratives, make choices, and immerse themselves in engaging stories. Whether exploring a football rivalry, leading an orchestra, or navigating a superhero’s fate, PlayNook offers a unique way to play and learn.

We’ve been working behind the scenes to bring you an even better, more immersive, and interactive experience. Whether you’re a commuter, a parent looking for family-friendly content, or an audio adventure enthusiast, this update is for you!

AudioGames are opening new possibilities in the world of gaming by creating engaging experiences that do not rely on vision. This type of audio game offers an interactive narrative entirely based on sound, utilizing immersive sound technology to deeply involve players in a unique and innovative way. While traditional video games often focus on graphics and visual interaction, AudioGames represent a revolution in accessibility, allowing even those with visual impairments to enjoy rich gaming experiences.

Gaming is not just about fun; it has a positive impact on many aspects of our lives, including memory, reflection, and mood. While games are often seen as a form of light entertainment, there are numerous cognitive and psychological benefits that can come from playing. In particular, AudioGames, which rely on audio game mechanics and immersive sound, offer unique advantages. This article will explore how gaming, especially AudioGames, can improve memory, stimulate creativity, and contribute to better mental well-being, especially for commuters.

Those who spend a lot of time on public transportation know how important it is to find ways to pass the time. Commuters have specific needs: they look for content that’s accessible, brief, and engaging without requiring constant visual interaction. AudioGames, audio-based games, and gamebooks are emerging as ideal solutions, offering immersive audio experiences that let players enjoy the journey without staring at a screen, with the added benefit of being easy to pause and resume.

We are thrilled to announce the release of PlayNook's new audio gamebook, "Lapis in Fabula", created in collaboration with Lucca Comics & Games. This innovative audio gamebook, written by Roan Johnson and narrated by actor Stefano Fresi, offers a unique immersive sound experience, featuring cover art by Paolo Cioni.

Stefano De Vivo, CEO of PlayNook, is from the southern Italian city of Bari, but he has lived in Milan for a long time. He is only 28 years old but already has a lot of artistic and creative experience: after training as a jazz guitarist, he toured Italy, then worked in record, theater and audio/video media productions before finally landing at PlayNook. In this interview he talks about why AudioGames are a real revolution and tells us more about himself.

Stefano De Vivo, COO of PlayNook: “Our innovative storytelling puts people back at the center of stories, making them the protagonists of wonderful adventures that they will create themselves. Through technology and sound, we want to give everyone the freedom to imagine.” After the gamebooks of the 1980s and the podcasts of the early millennium, a new way of experiencing great stories is born, diving into vast narrative universes of adventure, suspense, twists. The first audio game, “Marco Polo: Adventures”, – available in English and Italian – will take audio gamers from Venice to the China of the legendary Kublai Khan, testing them with all kinds of decisions and adventures. The first chapters will be released on the PlayNook app in May.