Storytelling in video games is a feat that has taken the entertainment world by storm. From the simple days of pong to the having more complete story lines and complex characters than award winning cinema. The art of storytelling is one that requires not only the writers to come together, but also the voice actors and the coders, so as to bring the whole world to life and give the players an unforgettable experience.  

In this article, we are going to show you how to carry out the process of writing a video game story and follow it up with a great example to help move you in the right direction!

Storytelling

The best way to carry out enthralling storytelling is by making the story interactive; by making the choices the player makes matter, this causes a sense of commitment and responsibility over the characters. Furthermore, the game’s story needs to be tied to the gameplay; rather than making the player sit through a cut scene and then go back to playing a segment of the game which has nothing to do with what they previously witnessed. By doing this you are actively keeping the gameplay interesting while continuously adding to the story. Another great tip is to make the environment work alongside everything else, adding damaged buildings or a lived-in environment stretching the world building as well as the story building. However, despite all this, sometimes a simple story with simple characters can be the best move for someone’s video game. If you would like to write better, check this out!

Narrative

Storytelling and narrative go hand in hand. The best example I can give to you is Hades, a rogue-like dungeon crawler set in the realm of the Greek gods. Not only does the narrative keep you glued to your seat, but the gameplay will keep your eyes peeled during every encounter. However, the game has a mechanic that few have been able to master; this is the one life policy throughout a route of the game you are taking. When the player dies in game, they are sent back to the start, lose all their items and upgrades, and have to fight a new set of enemies, bosses and ever-changing rooms. The way that Hades balances all of this together makes for an unforgettable gaming experience and a rich story! Learn more about Hades over here!

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References:

Hades Picture: Hades Wiki

The Last of Us 2 Picture: Wikipedia

Featured Image Reference: GQ-Magazine

Hades Article: Polygon

Story Writing Tips: Polygon