Your Indie Game’s Story (probably) Sucks



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Telling a great story in your indie game might seem like a straight forward task, but it’s actually incredibly difficult. Writing a story is one thing, but designing a story is a whole new playing field. Here are my 5 tips for writing better stories for you indie games! Hope you guys enjoy 🙂

Timestamps:
0:00 Balancing Story and Gameplay
1:51 Gameplay First (sometimes)
4:38 Hook Your Players
8:40 Act Like A Dungeon Master
10:58 The Storytelling Recipe
13:24 A Satisfying Ending

source

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25 comments

@CloudyGamingCG November 11, 2024 - 7:31 am
I believe in u! thanks
@yunggolem4687 November 11, 2024 - 7:31 am
Gameplay IS way more important than story, story isn't even required. Some of the best games have had minimal or no story. On the other hand a great story with weak/no gameplay, the game aspect is largely just getting in the way.
@CamelliaFlingert November 11, 2024 - 7:31 am
that's odd, i always thought the most weak aspect of majority of the games - gameplay (game design), it's always seemed to me that devs are forgetting they are devs and not only an artists, who creates a story with zero gameplay (walking simulator/boring clicker)
@fumetsusozo November 11, 2024 - 7:31 am
Personally don't think creating the gameplay first is always a requirement if some other important steps are taken beforehand. Firstly I believe any fun story will automatically produce good game ideas if you know how to translate story into interactive ideas. My opinion also is creators should purposely write stories that easily opens itself up to game concepts, and don't make a brick wall between the story & game elements as if they exist in separate realities. Everything should flow into each other naturally, balance is key.

For a personal example, when the main character in my adventure game project gets defeated, I don't just popup a generic gameover screen... because besides the fact I prefer whimsical ideas, I don't want the character to be able to die in lore... so instead I have a short revival minigame start up where you have to heal the character before you can continue. But point here is creators just need to try thinking outside the box more with game ideas that can be fused with storytelling, and not to much worry if it is something other creators would do.

SideNote: I actually prefer to create my character concepts before everything else! For me making flashy surreal character designs strongly leads to fun ideas for the other parts! xD
@rmt3589 November 11, 2024 - 7:31 am
I tend to go lore first, then story and theoretical gameplay. Writing and designing systems is the easier part for me, but I'm still lacking the skill to actually make the games. (I am learning though)

I have a lot of written out systems and mechanics, just need to be able to make them into the actual games. One day though! Probably in 2025.
@seangdovic4967 November 11, 2024 - 7:31 am
Personally, I think the solution to storytelling in video games is to not think of it as a balance between gameplay and story. Instead, merge them together and treat them as one. Tell the story through the gameplay.

That is one of the goals behind the game I’m working on. The character gains the ability to bring their memories back into reality. The memory manifestation mechanic is used for puzzle solving and platforming, and additionally, it tells the story of the character’s life directly through the gameplay interaction of remembering.

I hope to see more developers push the boundaries of what can be said/felt/explored through gameplay rather than relying completely on traditional storytelling methods.
@Louis_Ostrinsky November 11, 2024 - 7:31 am
Really like all your advices.

But I also think it depends, what kind of game someone wants to make.

If one makes a typical farming sim, like harvest moon or stardew valley the story might actually be the unique selling point, while the gameplay would probably be more typical for a farming.

While on the other hand a platformer like gris tells the story through mimic and overall art.

Games like skyrim are just filled with little storys and big ones. And even today ppl find new hidden storys or easter eggs.

I had an idea, roughly about the story. I wanted to make a regular farming sim, but with a grand story. Which is tough, because normally if a player is done with the story ones is done with the game. So thats a mammoth project on my hands😂

But otherwise the video shows some really good poonters that i should write down. Never know when one might need them.
@lovrovlasic9674 November 11, 2024 - 7:31 am
How dare you roast my game's story
@AlexMakovsky November 11, 2024 - 7:31 am
>>Your Indie Game’s Story (probably) Sucks

Yeah! I don't wanna to make story games at all because I can't write a good story. :')
@Sedokun November 11, 2024 - 7:31 am
I recommend to play SANABI (or watch it on YT if you bad at platformers). This game while being a platformer has very good (the best in my experience) embedded storytelling.
@NexusBaum November 11, 2024 - 7:31 am
what I learned: I'm hungry xD
@moonshot3159 November 11, 2024 - 7:31 am
ayo bruv your examples and analogies are pretty good. Hope more indie devs find this video.
@PieYT November 11, 2024 - 7:31 am
So hyped to play your game some day!!!

Man, how have your videos always been so engaging and well structured...
It's awesome to have been here for so long, and though I loved the game review/recommendation videos, this focus on game development has been genuinely great to watch and learn from!

love the honesty about nintendo (totk) lmao
@socialkidmusic November 11, 2024 - 7:31 am
I'm making an action game, where story doesnt matter, but I have a great freaking story. At least I think so.
@Boomblox5896 November 11, 2024 - 7:31 am
I've played some indie games before that have great story and balance it just fine with the gameplay. Even in a minimalist type of story, there can be a great amount of emotion conveyed through artstyle and music (one of the games I played focused on art and music, and it was amazing).
@ashernotheis76 November 11, 2024 - 7:31 am
Is that Luce?
@atticuskelem347 November 11, 2024 - 7:31 am
joke's on you buster i don't even HAVE an indie game. It has me
@FillMakesGames November 11, 2024 - 7:31 am
Thank you. This was informative!
@surrendering2within November 11, 2024 - 7:31 am
Hope you're enjoying the process of making your game even more than I'm loving learning about your process❤
@fogblades6811 November 11, 2024 - 7:31 am
Even if my story ends up kinda dookie, I want it to be fun and off the wall
@rickd.8432 November 11, 2024 - 7:31 am
Awesome tips! Love the video
@surrendering2within November 11, 2024 - 7:31 am
11:08 ¿what game is this?Thanks
@frol3z November 11, 2024 - 7:31 am
Your art is insanely good c:
@giganticmoon November 11, 2024 - 7:31 am
quirky indie rpg with a whole bunch of gameplay that does nothing and is meta for no reason other than for lets plays
@rmdcompositions November 11, 2024 - 7:31 am
Hype 🙌

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