Story and Narrative Development for Video Games

Story drives play

This course looks at narrative as a mechanism that moves gameplay forward, rather than as a cutscene attached at the end. It asks you to judge how different games tell their stories and to find themes you can carry into your own idea.

What you will examine

• Traditional story structures such as the three-act model
• How those structures fit into game story flows
• The strategic link between narrative beats and gameplay choices
• The themes and procedures that recur across historical and contemporary games

The course is labelled beginner and centers on analysis, so it works well for designers who learn by comparing examples. Ideation is one of its skills, which makes it a natural step before writing a full design document. Expect analysis and discussion rather than hands-on building.