A lack of narrative structure, as you know, will cause anxiety.

John Dufresne

Over the years, I have collaborated on many narrative experiences across various teams and studios. One of the recurring challenges I continue to face is achieving creative alignment among diverse collaborators on what constitutes a “good” narrative experience—especially during the early stages of production. This creative alignment refers to the process of ensuring that all departments—such as design, art, gameplay, and audio—share a common understanding of the story’s purpose and emotional goals. Without this shared vision, different disciplines can unintentionally work at cross-purposes, leading to tone, pacing, and player experience inconsistencies.

Crafting a compelling story takes time, and if narrative work doesn’t begin early enough, it creates anxiety around the story’s quality and development. The stakes are high because storytelling in games isn’t just about delivering plot points; it’s about providing an emotional journey that players will remember. The flow of that emotional journey must be carefully planned and executed to maintain player engagement. If the narrative structure is not established early, the story can feel disjointed or rushed, diminishing its emotional impact.

The solution is to establish narrative checkpoints throughout production. These checkpoints alleviate anxiety by aligning all stakeholders early and maintaining that alignment as the project progresses. Having a clear narrative roadmap not only fosters creative unity but also shields the story from being deprioritized or compromised during development. This roadmap ensures that the emotional beats of the story—moments of tension, revelation, and catharsis—are built up properly and released at the right time.

Creating a video game is an adventure filled with obstacles, surprises, and ordeals. Unfortunately, the narrative is often the first element to break under pressure or the first to be sacrificed by leadership when challenges arise. However, by using a narrative structure as a guiding framework, teams can maintain the integrity of the story across the entire production process.

The framework I propose addresses these issues by providing a shared language and a tool for creative alignment. It is designed to help narrative designers, developers, and other stakeholders stay aligned as they collaboratively build a strong, emotionally engaging story.

A Collaborative Endeavor

As narrative designers, we strive not only to tell good stories but also to craft emotional journeys that stay with players long after they’ve put down the controller. However, success requires more than just strong narrative skills; it depends on collaboration across all departments. Every member of the team—whether from design, art, gameplay, or audio—plays a role in delivering a cohesive experience. To achieve this, we must ensure that everyone is moving in the same creative direction.

While we, as narrative experts, understand the intricacies of storytelling, we cannot expect others on the team to automatically share that knowledge. Each discipline approaches the game from a different perspective, which can lead to misunderstandings about how story elements fit into the broader player experience. To address this challenge, we need tools that foster alignment—tools that help us teach and learn from one another. One of the most effective tools I’ve found for this is a narrative structure.

The Power of a Narrative Structure

A narrative structure provides more than just a storytelling framework; it serves as a shared language across disciplines. With this shared reference, collaborators can better understand the purpose of each narrative element, making it easier to align their work with the emotional goals of the story. A good structure ensures that every moment—from story beats to gameplay mechanics—works in concert to build a memorable emotional arc.

At its core, narrative structure helps organize the emotional flow of the player experience. For example, if the story’s emotional climax is point “C,” we must first establish “A” and “B” through appropriate narrative beats. This buildup allows the climax to resonate fully. When structure is missing, however, the story loses much of its emotional potential. Essential beats are overlooked, and the player may experience a series of disconnected events rather than a cohesive journey.

A strong structure guides us in cultivating key emotional moments—tension and release, expectation and surprise, mystery and revelation. These moments are vital to maintaining player engagement, ensuring that every part of the story contributes to an overall sense of progression and meaning.

A Practiced and Proved Model

Story structure is not a new concept. For centuries, scholars, writers, and artists have studied the architecture of storytelling. From Aristotle’s Poetics to modern screenplay theorists like Robert McKee and Syd Field, there is a long tradition of research into how stories engage audiences. Even psychology offers insights into why certain story structures work, with concepts like the “hedonic treadmill” explaining how humans respond to patterns of reward, tension, and resolution.

The framework I propose draws from these established theories but adapts them specifically for video game storytelling. Games present unique challenges and opportunities—player agency, interactive pacing, and dynamic world-building—that require a tailored approach to narrative structure. Despite these differences, countless creators across media have successfully applied similar structures to their work. This includes:

• Star Wars
• Harry Potter
• An episode of a sitcom like Friends
• An episode of a reality show
• An indie film
• A documentary
• A Shakespearean play
• Musical composition
• Etc.

In each case, a structure provides a foundation that supports creativity rather than restricting it. Just as the rule of thirds enhances photography or perspective lines guide painting, narrative structure offers a flexible tool to shape a story. It does not dictate formulaic outcomes; instead, it ensures that all elements work together to maximize emotional impact.

However, like any creative tool, structure must be wielded with intention and vision. Used carelessly, it can lead to uninspired work. But when mastered, it becomes a powerful ally, allowing creators to craft rich, immersive stories that connect deeply with players.

Next > The Emotional journey – PART 2 – “What is a Narrative Structure”