Plotkin was one of the earliest writers to use Graham Nelson's Inform development system, and one of the first since Infocom's heyday to explore the boundaries of interactive fiction as an artistic medium.

The Glk API has made possible the creation of "universal translator" interpreters such as Gargoyle, a single program capable of running all interactive fiction formats.

He created the organization's signature "Capture the Flag with Stuff"[7] game, which is now played by several hundred students every semester.

[8] Plotkin's version of the game subsequently became popular at universities and conferences in the United States, with a set of cards being produced by Looney Labs.

He has also made contributions to the Icehouse community, both in designing the game Branches & Twigs & Thorns,[9] and the creation of several custom sets of pieces.