Best Practices: 7 Tips for Narrative Game Design Documentation

Narrative Nightmare: 7 Documentation Tips I Wish I Knew Sooner

It was 3 AM. Again. My narrative game, “Echoes of the Past,” was supposed to be nearing completion. Instead, I was staring at a tangled mess of dialogue trees, realizing a crucial plot point contradicted something I wrote weeks ago. My protagonist, initially driven by revenge, now seemed… confused. I was confused. Burnout was looming.

My biggest mistake? Diving headfirst into development without proper documentation. I fell for the “MVP (Minimum Viable Product) thinking” trap, believing I could build the core mechanics and “figure out the story later.” In narrative games, that’s a recipe for disaster. The story is the core. Here’s what I learned the hard way:

1. Scope Creep is a Narrative Game’s Kryptonite

My initial “simple” story ballooned into a sprawling epic with multiple timelines. Why? I hadn’t defined the scope upfront.

• Lesson: Before writing a single line of dialogue, define the game’s boundaries. How many main characters? How many endings? What’s the essential conflict? Stick to it. Ruthlessly cut anything that doesn’t serve the core narrative.

2. Story Beat Outlines: Your Narrative Roadmap

I started writing scenes randomly, fueled by fleeting inspiration. The result? A narrative that felt disjointed and aimless.

• Lesson: Create a detailed outline of key story beats. Think of it as a roadmap. What major events need to happen, and in what order? This doesn’t need to be rigid, but it provides structure and prevents you from getting lost.

3. Character Bibles: Know Your Cast

My characters lacked depth and consistency. Their motivations shifted, their backstories felt flimsy.

• Lesson: Develop comprehensive character bibles. Include everything: physical descriptions, personality traits, motivations, relationships, backstories, quirks, fears, and goals. Refer to this bible constantly to ensure consistent characterization.

4. Worldbuilding Notes: Make it Real

My game world felt generic and uninspired. I hadn’t invested enough time in fleshing out its history, culture, and rules.

• Lesson: Even in a small, contained narrative game, worldbuilding matters. Document the history, geography, culture, and lore of your game world. These details add depth and believability, even if they’re not explicitly stated in the game.

5. Branching Narrative Flowcharts: Visualize the Choices

I tried to manage the branching narrative in my head. Predictably, it became a tangled, unmanageable mess.

• Lesson: Use branching narrative flowcharts to visualize the player’s choices and their consequences. Tools like Twine are great for this. Seeing the structure visually helps you identify plot holes, inconsistencies, and dead ends.

6. Dialogue Drafts: Refine Before Implementation

I wrote dialogue directly in the game engine, leading to clumsy phrasing and inconsistent character voices.

• Lesson: Write dialogue drafts separately, focusing on clarity, character voice, and pacing. This allows you to refine the dialogue without the pressure of immediate implementation. Get feedback on your drafts before adding them to the game.

7. Consistent Terminology and Style Guides: Avoid Confusion

I used different terms for the same thing, and my writing style fluctuated wildly. It created a jarring experience for players.

• Lesson: Establish a consistent terminology and style guide. Define key terms, character names, locations, and factions. Decide on a consistent tone and writing style. Adhere to these guidelines throughout the development process.

These documentation practices might seem time-consuming, but they’re an investment that pays off in the long run. They prevent scope creep, ensure consistency, and ultimately, save you time and frustration. I learned that “MVP thinking” can actively sabotage a narrative game because the narrative is the product. Focus on thorough documentation and exploration.

Documenting these systems would have saved me countless hours of rework and stress.

A Journal for Your Game’s Soul

The biggest takeaway from my near-burnout experience was the need for a central place to track all this information. I needed a dedicated “narrative game design journal.” This isn’t just about writing notes; it’s about tracking the evolution of your ideas, documenting your design decisions, and staying organized throughout the development process.

Think of it as a living document that reflects the soul of your game. It’s a space for you to record your inspirations, experiment with different approaches, and reflect on your progress. It’s also the best way to keep track of all seven steps outlined above.

If you are feeling overwhelmed, unsure where to start, or simply want a better way to organize your game dev journey, then give it a try. Start documenting and see your game thrive. We’ve created a tool to help you do just that: check out our narrative game design journal to get started.