Course Summary
Stories are the heartbeat of memorable games. Narrative design is more than just writing dialogue; it’s about crafting experiences that give players a sense of purpose, emotion, and connection to the world they inhabit.
In Narrative Design in Games, you’ll learn how to shape stories that resonate, characters that feel alive, and worlds that invite exploration. Whether you’re a designer, writer, or developer, this course will give you the tools and techniques to integrate narrative seamlessly into gameplay.
By the end, you’ll understand not only how to write for games, but how to design narratives that enhance player agency, deliver impactful choices, and create unforgettable journeys.
Ideal for: Game designers, writers, narrative designers, and developers aiming to integrate narrative more effectively into gameplay.
About Alice Rendell
Alice Rendell is a Narrative Systems Designer with over 15 years of experience, currently working as Narrative Lead. She has previously worked on a variety of games, ranging from indie titles to AAA games, including Ubisoft’s Star Wars: Outlaws and Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora, as well as smaller indie games. She began her career as a game designer, then transitioned into narrative design, as she had always been drawn to the storytelling aspect of games.
In 2014, Alice was named one of Develop Online’s 30 under 30, and in 2015, MCV’s Top 100 Women in Games.
When she isn’t developing, playing or thinking about video games, you’ll find Alice with a good book, surrounded by her cats.
Course Outline
Module 1: Welcome to Narrative Design in Games
- What is Narrative Design
Module 2: Concepting the Game
- Creating Core Pillars
- Defining the Player Fantasy
- Risks & Stakes in Narrative Design
- Choosing Playable Characters
- The Protagonist Problem
- Self-guided exercises
Module 3: Telling the Story
- Cutscenes & Dialogue
- Branching Narrative
- Secondary Worldbuilding
- The Game Writing Process
- Self-guided exercises
Module 4: Enhancing the Narrative
- Authentic NPC’s
- Skipping Conversation
- Narrative Design Traps
- Self-guided exercises
Module 5: The Conclusion
- Meaningful Design
