Stories are fundamental to human experience; they give context, meaning, and purpose. Even simple games, such as Sprouts or Space Invaders, allow players to project narratives onto their mechanics, thereby enhancing engagement and emotional investment. As designers, understanding why players play, beyond winning, is essential for creating experiences that resonate.
Foundations of Storytelling
All stories, regardless of format or complexity, draw from a core set of components that shape how players interpret and connect with the experience. These foundational elements include:
- Premise – What is this game about at its core?
The central idea or conflict that sets the stage for everything else. - Characters – Who is involved in the story, and why do they matter?
The people or entities that drive the narrative and create an emotional connection. - Setting – Where and when does this take place?
The world, time, and atmosphere that give the story context. - Plot – What happens along the way?
The sequence of events, actions, and obstacles the characters encounter. – - Story – What does it all mean as a whole?
The bigger narrative that ties everything together and gives the journey purpose.
These components don’t require cutscenes or dialogue to exist; players will often infer them even from abstract mechanics.
Storytelling in games
Even the simplest games use storytelling to drive engagement and:
- Provide context for game rules and procedures
- Help explain how to achieve goals through gameplay mechanics
- Introduce characters that drive the story line
Example: Storytelling in Super Mario Bros.
Premise: An evil tyrant has kidnapped a princess, and the hero must journey across a dangerous world to rescue her.
Characters:
- Mario – The protagonist and player character, acting as the hero.
- Luigi – An alternate playable character in some versions.
- Princess Peach – The captive royalty who needs rescuing.
- Bowser (King Koopa) – The antagonist who has taken the princess.
- Enemies – Goombas, Koopa Troopas, and other creatures that serve as obstacles.
Setting: The Mushroom Kingdom, a whimsical, colorful world composed of themed environments such as grasslands, underground caverns, underwater zones, fortresses, and castles.
Plot :
- Mario begins his journey in the Mushroom Kingdom.
- He travels through multiple themed worlds filled with enemies and hazards.
- He overcomes platforming challenges and environmental obstacles.
- At the end of each world, he enters a castle and confronts a boss or Bowser impostor.
- After each victory, he moves on to the next stage in pursuit of Princess Peach.
- His progression leads him closer to the final castle, where the real Bowser holds Peach captive.
Story: The story centers on Mario stepping up to protect the Mushroom Kingdom after Bowser’s invasion disrupts its peace. Rescuing Princess Peach isn’t just a personal mission; it symbolizes restoring balance, hope, and safety to a world under threat. Each stage reflects that struggle, culminating in a final confrontation that resolves the kingdom’s turmoil.
Why Story Matters
A story gives players a reason to care about the world they’re interacting with. Not all games require complex plots or emotional depth to be effective; even a simple story can make gameplay feel intentional and engaging.
Players don’t pick up Super Mario Bros. for rich character development or philosophical themes, yet the story still serves a purpose. It explains why you’re running through colorful worlds, jumping over walking mushrooms, smashing bricks, and collecting coins. The narrative provides context for the mechanics, frames the tone as a lighthearted adventure, and gives players a clear goal to pursue.
Stories Should Enhance, Not Distract
While stories help to provide context to a game, they should never break the game. In other words, the story shouldn’t distract from player interaction or the core mechanics; instead, it should enhance them. In the following Brackeys video demonstrates how storytelling can be used as an effective tool in games when done right.
Wrap-Up
When story is aligned with the gameplay, it strengthens the experience rather than interrupting it. Whether it’s a simple premise or a layered narrative, its job is to support the player’s actions, shape the tone, and provide clarity of purpose. What matters isn’t how complex the story is, but how well it fits the game.
This is where narrative design comes in. Rather than focusing on plot alone, narrative design is about integrating story elements into the mechanics, world, and player choices so that the experience feels cohesive and intentional.