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Day 20 of 30✓ Sent
Game Idea Deep Dive #2 — Narrative and Story-Driven Games
Explore narrative game design — how to tell a story through mechanics, not just cutscenes.
Email subject:Game Idea Deep Dive #2 — Narrative and Story-Driven Games
Topics Covered
- •What makes a narrative game: player agency in story, environmental storytelling, character-driven progression
- •Successful examples: What Remains of Edith Finch, Firewatch, A Short Hike, Unpacking, Disco Elysium
- •Tools in Unity: Ink (narrative scripting language, free, integrates with Unity), Yarn Spinner (visual dialogue trees)
- •AI advantage: Claude writes excellent branching dialogue, item flavour text, journal entries — massive time saver
- •Scope reality: narrative games are harder to scope than puzzle. Story needs an end. Budget 2x more writing time than you think.
- •AI game idea for you: 'A first-person memory game set in a Brisbane house after a family event. You find objects that trigger audio memories. Non-linear, emotional, 30-45 mins total.' — personal, achievable, resonant.