Parsley is a roleplaying game by Jared A. Sorensen, based on the text-parser games from Infocom.

To play, all you need are a few tokens and some pencils, paper and index cards (or small pieces of paper).

One person needs to take the role of Parser. The other players portray characters.

The Parser should come up with a basic setting for the game and a starting location. If you have time to prepare, the Parser can create the adventure by drawing a map on a piece of paper. The map is a series of numbered boxes (locations) connected by lines (exits). If you wish to create room descriptions ahead of time, write down each location numbers on another piece of paper and list each location description beside each number.

The players should come up with a basic character. Unless otherwise specified, these characters start the game without any special abilities or items in their inventory. If you want, you can play yourself.

To play, the Parser will describe a location, items or characters (aside from the players) in that location and exits away from the location. Not every object mentioned is an item. Items are objects existing in the location that may be taken by the characters. Every time an item is introduced for the first time, write down the item's name on an index card. If a character takes an item, give that character's player that item card. Players can only hold seven cards at one time. If an object is dropped, write down the current location number on the card and set it aside.

Players may explore the rooms, interact with other characters and acquire and use items. The only trick is that players must announce their actions (called commands) using simple sentences and simple words (like look at, go to, pick up, kill, eat, etc.). If the Parser decides that a command is too complex or doesn't make sense, he or she may ask the player to re-state the command using different phrasing by issuing a response such as:

"You can't go that way."
"I don't see that here."
"I don't know what you mean."
"There is no one here by the name."
"You don't have that."

Characters may die from issuing stupid commands ("Eat Troll." "Kill me.") or by performing some action that the Parser has (secretly) flagged as lethal ("Drink potion." "Pick lock with lock-pick."). To counter this, each player has three tokens. Before the player issues a command, he or she may spend one token to "save" their place in the game. The player should write down their location and items carried. If the player's character should die after saving his or her position, the Parser should place the character back at its pre-save location and re-equip that character with saved items. Players that run out of tokens will be unable to save their place.