Video games are nothing more than animated stories where you get to be the main character. There’s a plot, a storyline, and all sorts of characters that keep everything interesting. And, while some decisions you make may change the storyline a little bit, the ending is quite easy to predict since most games require the hero to complete a series of quest to save the world, princess, city, and so on.
And while the story is easier to identify in PC and console games, browser games need one too. Even games like Slither.io and FNaF here are built following a certain technique that keeps players on their toes and engaged throughout the game!
So, if you’re curious about how developers decide on the story and technique to use, let’s have a look at some of the most popular ones for browser games.
User Experience is Crucial
The main purpose of a story is to have the user connected to the game and enjoying themselves while playing. Otherwise, the gaming industry probably wouldn’t exist, or it would be something only the nerdiest of the nerds would try.
As such, the developer must find a way to create an interesting story that can be supported by the mechanics of the platform they’re using. However, the best way to do this is to not start with a fully-formed story. In fact, it helps a lot if you start with a basic idea and let the user experience guide you.
The main question a developer needs to ask while building a new character or inserting a new challenge is: “Would a player have fun with this?”. If not, their work is not going to be appreciated.
The Use of Visual Symbols
There are many ways to tell a story, and one of those ways is through visual symbols (which conveniently works with the world of games).
Movie producers do this all the time, by setting a scene that tells an hour-long story in just a few minutes. For instance, a fallen shield marked with the symbol of a beloved house can mean defeat. Some red paint in a flowing river shows danger or death.
Also, symbols like tiny maps or treasure chests signify that the player can find more information on the road ahead or the inventory. The right symbols transcend languages and cultures and make games easy to understand regardless of location.
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Using NPCs
There was a time when game developers would put the whole story in a block of text at the beginning of the game. As you can imagine, most players would hit the Skip button in the first fraction of a second and they would miss out on the entire experience.
Nowadays, developers let the story go little by little through clues that let the player know which direction to follow. Still, for those tips and clues that can’t be delivered via the environment, developers use NPCs or Non-Playing Characters that are in the game only to answer your questions or tell you a story.
Browser Games with Great Stories
Now that you know which are the most popular storytelling techniques, we challenge you to discover them in the browser games you love.
For instance, the FNaF World has a lot of cool ways to keep players both horrified and engaged! The same goes for the Town of Salem, a wonderful game of logic and misguidance that only gets better as the story progresses.
Not to mention that you’ll find a fun and quite unique story in the Viking Village: Party Hard game. Also, did you know there is a storyline in games like Agar.io? It may not seem so at first, but if you look close enough, you’ll find it!
