Back to Story and Narrative Development for Video Games
California Institute of the Arts

Story and Narrative Development for Video Games

In this course, you will examine how storytelling acts as a vital mechanism for driving video gameplay forward. Looking at several historical and contemporary games, you will be asked to evaluate and interpret different story styles with the goal of identifying themes and procedures for your own game ideas. We'll examine traditional narrative story processes, such as three-act structure, and how they fit into game story flows and the strategic elements of gameplay. Ultimately, you will learn how to define character, setting, and structure to create a compelling game concept.

Status: Writing
Status: Game Design
BeginnerCourse12 hours

Featured reviews

PA

5.0Reviewed Sep 27, 2020

Great instructor, very good material used for guidance and all concepts were fairly easy to understand. Highly recommend for beginners interested in narrative and story design.

RL

4.0Reviewed Mar 8, 2016

I learned good stuff. i gave four star because there could be more content some parts were written instead of a lecture. But i will recommend this course.

ES

5.0Reviewed Feb 27, 2018

Loved the coarse and especially the teacher! Was a real pleasure to listen to such a well constructed lectures. And the assignments very interesting.

YI

5.0Reviewed Dec 5, 2022

I started the course because I needed to know how a game is designed and this course did a great job teaching all the components of the game.

LL

5.0Reviewed Mar 6, 2019

What a fun course! Really made me think about writing, how to turn a story into a game, and how to ideate and create bigger concepts from small ideas. Loved watching all the videos!

NZ

5.0Reviewed Jan 10, 2021

Fantastic course, really helpful. I just wished there was a summary of the course and the tips that were given throughout at the end of the course.

RB

5.0Reviewed Feb 23, 2016

I am glad that I have chosen to sign up to this course. It has open up my vision to a whole new world. Thanks so very much. The professor is engaging and the course content is fascinating.

PD

5.0Reviewed Sep 6, 2020

Helped me a lot in building story for my game. A great short course for understanding narrative development in video games. Highly recommended for game designers.

YL

5.0Reviewed Nov 24, 2020

It is as much great as it is simple. Skills and practices are given in a clear and understandable way. Exercises reinforce taken knowledge effectively. Thank you a lot for this course!

YY

5.0Reviewed Feb 3, 2024

I got the most out of this course since it really helped me develop my ideas using very simple and approachable methods. There was plenty of information for this one.

SV

5.0Reviewed Oct 31, 2015

The basics of this course are well defined and prepare you for proper story and narrative development in video games. I like the step-by-step process this course takes.

WB

4.0Reviewed Mar 27, 2019

I really enjoyed this course and the instructors materials, I just wish we were given the chance to work on our own games in the assignments.

All reviews

Showing: 20 of 306

Breanne Carlson
2.0
Reviewed Sep 7, 2018
Vincent del Prado
2.0
Reviewed Mar 7, 2016
Dolapo Atobiloye
5.0
Reviewed Nov 7, 2017
Francisco Nicolet
2.0
Reviewed Dec 3, 2015
Davide
2.0
Reviewed Feb 9, 2016
Viola Behringer
2.0
Reviewed Sep 27, 2016
Megan Rose Chapple O'Sullivan
3.0
Reviewed Jun 25, 2023
adrian stanica
2.0
Reviewed Aug 16, 2021
Sarah Hecke
5.0
Reviewed Oct 23, 2021
Diego Tobarra
5.0
Reviewed Nov 22, 2016
Negar Jahanshahi
5.0
Reviewed Jun 24, 2023
Cathe Boudreau
5.0
Reviewed Oct 20, 2016
Rosana Brasil
5.0
Reviewed Feb 24, 2016
Tsur Drori
4.0
Reviewed Oct 3, 2020
Oleksandra Klid
4.0
Reviewed Jan 7, 2023
Jorge Tomasis
4.0
Reviewed May 16, 2016
Shanna Sportelli
3.0
Reviewed Mar 19, 2019
Brit Toth
3.0
Reviewed Nov 17, 2016
Laura Ribeiro
3.0
Reviewed Aug 24, 2020
M Williams
3.0
Reviewed Oct 16, 2016