The Play’s the Thing

Abstract Telling a good story is challenging, but good storytelling in games is especially difficult due to their interactive nature, where player action needs to become part of the narrative. This chapter discusses how game stories can be made more meaningful through players’ interactions with characters, plot, and the world around them. Topics investigated include how players relate to the characters they control, what makes a character fun to interact with, and how to ensure players feel engaged in a game’s narrative. Preserving players’ (often illusory) sense of agency or free will is explored as a key factor in immersion and enjoyment of story elements. Designs to support this, such as branching narratives and player morality systems, are also covered in the chapter.