Unlock the Power of Narrative in Games
Welcome to Module 31: Narrative. In this powerful two-part course, you’ll explore how storytelling has evolved through culture and technology—and how games, as a unique medium, offer new frontiers for narrative impact.
This course will give you both the theoretical grounding and design insight to elevate your storytelling within interactive experiences.
By completing this module, you’ll earn 2 Credits and gain a new lens through which to craft meaningful, player-driven stories.
Included in:
IVGC+ Membership
What You'll Achieve with this Module
This course will help you understand the core mechanics of narrative and how they can be applied in game design. You’ll examine classic story structures and how they’ve shaped human culture, and then dive into the specifics of how games enable a new form of storytelling - one where the player’s actions become part of the narrative arc.
By the end, you’ll have a foundational toolkit for using story as a game design element - from worldbuilding and theme to gameplay alignment and emotional payoff.
Complete Course Overview
This intermediate-level course includes two lecture videos, a comprehensive 50-question quiz, and a narrative reflection exercise. Here's what you'll study:
Part 1 – The Power of Stories
An exploration into the origins and structure of storytelling.
- Discover how early storytelling shaped human culture
- Trace the evolution of major narratives through history and technology
- Break down essential narrative tools and concepts, including:
- The Puzzle
- The Premise
- The Principle
- The Fulcrum
- The Hero’s Quest
By the end of this section, you’ll be able to recognize and analyze the narrative structure behind any story, be it classic or modern.
Part 2 – The Power of Games
Learn how gameplay and narrative can work together to deliver unforgettable experiences.
- Explore how games create narrative through world building, mis-en-scène, architecture, and scenario
- Understand how interactivity changes the storyteller’s role
- Learn to align theme, game mechanics, and player experience
- Study how games convey meaning uniquely, and how to make use of that power in your own projects
This section bridges theory and practice, helping you design stories only games can tell.
Skills You'll Develop
You’ll gain valuable narrative design tools that you can apply to games, interactive media, and beyond:
- Understand narrative structure and how to break it
- Build emotional resonance through theme and design alignment
- Use environmental storytelling effectively
- Explore the cultural function of story across mediums
- Write more purposefully for interactive contexts
Example Curriculum
How You’ll Complete the Course
The IVGC Course offers the flexibility to study at your own pace, with all lessons available online via Teachable. Here’s how you’ll progress:
1. Watch the Video Lessons
Enjoy two expert-led video lectures, complete with subtitles and chapter breakdowns.
2. Complete the Quiz + Reflection
Solidify your learning with a 50-question quiz and a guided written assignment where you'll apply narrative analysis to your own ideas.
3. Assessment and Credits
Submit your assignment and quiz. Once reviewed and passed, you’ll earn 2 Credits toward your IVGC journey.
Technical Requirements
To complete this course effectively, you will need:
- A stable internet connection
- A device capable of playing video (PC, Mac, tablet, etc.)
Recognized Credits and Certificate
Completing this course earns you 2 Credits. You'll be eligible to request a Certificate of Studies upon completion. These credits can be part of your degree studies or serve as valuable evidence of your skills and interest when applying to European universities.
Start your Storytelling Journey
This course is brought to you in partnership with XAMK South-Eastern University of Applied Sciences, Cambridge Gamechanger Ltd (Cambridge Academy of Gaming and Innovation), and Cypherdelic Ltd.
Enroll today and transform the way you tell stories in games.