What is the best the "choose your own adventure"/gamebook format has to offer?
>>50643139
I assume /tg/s answer might be the lonewolf serious.
It's mine.
>>50643173
Series...
They can be serious too.
>>50643139
Lone Wolf's the most consistently good. And free, thanks to based Joe Dever.
https://www.projectaon.org/en/Main/Home
Now, in terms of more unique ones, you can't go wrong with "Curse of the Creeping Coffin". The Give Yourself Goosebumps books are relatively weak, but CotCC is a gem.
There was also this other, Lovecraftian-themed CYOA which I remember really liking as a kid. You started off with a walking stick as your main weapon, but it could be turned into the ghostly spear of an ancient knight if you met the guy in a dream. Wish I could remember the book's name.
>>50643173
>>50643522
Sorcery! > Lone Wolf
>>50643897
>Cityport of Traps' bullshit insta-loss condition that forces you to do every event in order.
>The trainwreck that was Seven Serpents.
Suuuure.
>>50643139
Well, I know it technically it's a virtual gamebook and it costs like, 17 dollars on the App Store, but the digital versions of Sorcery 1-4 are fuckin A. To be honest, it was worth every penny.
>>50643139
If you're willing to go full virtual, there's always Interactive Fiction: http://ifdb.tads.org
Most, if not all of it is free, and there's some pretty good stuff, like the official Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy game, or Anchorhead. You can try a rather short, but well made one called Aisle here:
http://www.ifiction.org/games/playz.php?cat=&game=232&mode=html
It only takes a few moments to play, but it's incredibly well-written.