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Galatea is a text adventure about a conversation with a statue that has come to life. I've never seen NPC interaction this detailed.
It's an old game (2000), but it's new to me... and maybe to you? Free to play.
http://textadventures.co.uk/games/view/emrhyy7pp0c8bjkjeuhs-g/galatea
@ejworthing Galatea is great!
I have not played IF in recent years at all, but I recommend exploring the past winners of https://ifcomp.org/ and http://xyzzyawards.org/
My personal favorites in the genre were more long-form story focused: Anchorhead (1998, Lovecraftian horror in the style of Shadow of Innsmouth) and Slouching Towards Bedlam (2003, Steampunk Mystery) and The King of Shreds and Patches (2009, another Lovecraftian horror, set in Shakespearan London).