narrative design Archives

AppWizard

December 20, 2025

The 10 best PC games of 2025

PC gaming is experiencing a surge in popularity due to higher frame rates, ultra-wide monitor compatibility, modding capabilities, and robust backward compatibility. Players can upgrade individual components over time, enhancing long-term value. 1. Hades II - Metacritic score: 94; praised for its fast-paced action, character-driven storytelling, and expressive art. 2. Sektori - Metacritic score: 93; a minimalist PC shooter emphasizing precision and featuring twin-stick mechanics. 3. Blue Prince - Metacritic score: 92; combines puzzles and roguelike exploration with a unique structure. 4. Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 - Metacritic score: 91; an RPG with surreal fantasy elements and turn-based combat. 5. Hollow Knight: Silksong - Metacritic score: 90; focuses on agile gameplay and features a vertically expansive world. 6. Split Fiction - Metacritic score: 90; an experimental narrative adventure exploring parallel storylines. 7. Final Fantasy VII Rebirth - Metacritic score: 90; expands the world and character arcs with enhanced PC features. 8. Despelote - Metacritic score: 89; a narrative about soccer and childhood through a reflective lens. 9. The Talos Principle: Reawakened - Metacritic score: 89; refines puzzles and philosophical themes for modern audiences. 10. The Seance of Blake Manor - Metacritic score: 89; a detective horror game focused on atmosphere and environmental storytelling.

AppWizard

October 15, 2025

RPG developer Owlcat launches free game dev learning resource: ‘A rising tide truly lifts all ships’

Cyprus-based Owlcat Games has launched the GameDev Learning Drop, a free directory of resources for game developers, in collaboration with several game studios and publishers, including Midwest Games, Fireshine Games, Gaijin Entertainment, and 11 Bit Studios. The initiative features over 350 curated learning resources covering topics like game design, programming, narrative design, and project management. The project originated from Owlcat's internal practice of sharing valuable resources among team members. The GameDev Learning Drop is intended to be a continuously updated resource, allowing other developers and publishers to contribute materials for review and inclusion.

AppWizard

October 15, 2025

The story for Paradox’s original, canned Bloodlines 2 has gone the way of the dodo, and its fired narrative lead says no one’s spoken to him about it, but the good news is he’s working on 2 games at once right now

Vampire: The Masquerade – Bloodlines 2 was announced in 2019 by Paradox Interactive, featuring Brian Mitsoda as the original writer and narrative lead. In 2020, both Mitsoda and creative director Ka'ai Cluney were dismissed, and by 2021, Hardsuit Labs lost the project. In 2023, Paradox transferred the project to The Chinese Room, which led to a complete overhaul of the game. Mitsoda has had no communication with The Chinese Room or Paradox since his departure. Dan Pinchbeck from The Chinese Room stated that they would create a new narrative for Bloodlines 2, which Mitsoda interpreted as a reason for replacing his team's contributions. Mitsoda was responsible for designing quests, dialogue tools, and character development during the initial stages of the game, but he preferred the creative process over public relations roles. He is currently involved in a AAA project and an independent venture, hoping to return to game direction in the future.

AppWizard

October 4, 2025

Owlcat’s new Warhammer RPG has “crazy romances” and “kinky stuff,” but not because of Baldur’s Gate 3

Anatoly Shestov, the executive producer of Warhammer 40k Dark Heresy, discussed the influence of Baldur's Gate 3 on game development, emphasizing its extensive role-playing elements and the capacity for self-expressive roleplay. He noted that the game's diverse party dynamics and character interactions contribute to a rich gameplay experience, which was previously considered too costly to implement. Shestov acknowledged that while Owlcat's Rogue Trader had a simpler romance system, Dark Heresy aims to evolve this aspect, integrating romance thoughtfully into character development rather than as a superficial addition. He hinted at the potential for "crazy romances" in Dark Heresy, thanks to their narrative design team's talent, promising unique character interactions.

AppWizard

September 8, 2025

Dishonored ‘sounded a little bit ridiculous’ in the beginning, but came together with the help of the Sweeney Todd musical

Lackrow Boulevard in Dunwall is home to The Black Friar hotel, which is associated with the Hatters Gang. At number 131, AudioLog produces audiograph players that capture and replay spoken words through punchcards, preserving the thoughts of various characters. Austin Grossman, a significant figure in the gaming industry, is the creator of the audiograph. He contributed to influential games like System Shock and Deus Ex and wrote the novel You, reflecting on his experiences at Looking Glass Studios. Grossman praised Dishonored 2 for its dual protagonist system and the transition from Dunwall to Serkonos. He expressed a desire to explore more islands in the Dishonored universe and suggested that the series could benefit from a lighter tone. He also noted that the island in Deathloop is part of the Dishonored universe, set in a distant future, and highlighted the narrative design differences between the two games. Grossman believes that the emotional depth of the stories distinguishes them from other titles like Prey. He considers writing for the Dishonored series a privilege and acknowledges the unpredictable nature of success in the gaming industry.

AppWizard

August 30, 2025

The 10 best games of all time on PC

Video games have evolved significantly, with the personal computer playing a crucial role in the industry's growth. PC gaming is appreciated for its flexibility, diverse hardware configurations, extensive modability, and nearly 40 years of backwards compatibility. A selection of the best PC games based on Metacritic scores includes: - Disco Elysium: Score 97/100, known for its narrative design and player choices. - Half-Life 2: Score 96/100, celebrated for its innovative physics and storytelling. - Grand Theft Auto 5: Score 96/100, features a compelling single-player narrative and a vast online world. - Baldur's Gate 3: Score 96/100, recognized as a masterclass in role-playing games with community-driven updates. - BioShock: Score 96/100, blends first-person shooting with action-adventure elements and a strong morality system. - Persona 5 Royal: Score 95/100, balances dungeon exploration with a social life in a turn-based RPG format. - Portal 2: Score 95/100, known for its innovative puzzle design and engaging narrative. - The Elder Scrolls 5: Skyrim: Score 94/100, offers vast replayability and extensive modding options. - Mass Effect 2: Score 94/100, noted for its impactful storytelling and memorable ending. - Sid Meier's Civilization 2: Score 94/100, a classic strategy game that remains popular despite its limited availability on modern platforms.

AppWizard

July 24, 2025

Surgent Studios unveils Dead Take live-action horror game for the PC

Abubakar Salim is the founder of Surgent Studios and the creative director of the upcoming live-action horror game, Dead Take, which will launch on Steam and the Epic Games Store on July 31. Surgent Studios, established in 2019, previously released the side-scrolling Metroidvania game Tales of Kenzara: Zau in April 2024, which did not achieve commercial success. Following funding issues for a project called Project Uso, the studio faced layoffs in July 2024. In January 2025, Surgent Studios secured funding from Pocketpair Publishing, allowing them to focus on Dead Take, inspired by Salim's experiences in the entertainment industry. Dead Take features a live-action film-like aesthetic created with Unreal Engine 5 and follows an actor named Chase Lowry, who searches for his missing friend in a mansion reminiscent of horror classics. The gameplay includes escape-room-style puzzles and fragmented video files revealing Hollywood's unsettling truths. The game explores themes of ambition and betrayal, with a cast that includes Neil Newbon, Ben Starr, Jane Perry, and Alanah Pearce, along with cameos from industry veterans. Salim emphasizes psychological horror over graphic violence, focusing on the emotional challenges within the industry. Players are encouraged to engage with the game using pen and paper and headphones for a richer experience.

AppWizard

June 22, 2025

Pathologic 3’s time travel system will let players ‘explore the unknown boldly and without fearing permanent ruin’ and that makes me way more inclined to play it

Pathologic 2 is a challenging immersive sim from Ice-Pick Lodge that has a dedicated following but may not cater to players seeking a more balanced experience. The upcoming Pathologic 3 will redefine the player experience by starting at the point of failure and allowing players to backtrack through time to correct past mistakes. The narrative follows protagonist Dankovsky, who faces dire consequences for his actions, and players will have two key mechanics: "Amalgam," which enables time jumps to alter past events, and the "Mind Map," which visually represents decision interconnections for strategic planning. These mechanics are integral to the gameplay, with specific locations and endings accessible only through particular causal combinations, promoting exploration and creativity without forcing players into fail states.

AppWizard

May 21, 2025

Obsidian vet Carrie Patel has joined Netflix

Carrie Patel, former director of Avowed, has joined Night School Studio, a subsidiary of Netflix, as game director. She previously worked at Obsidian Entertainment for nearly 12 years, contributing to titles like Pillars of Eternity, The Outer Worlds, and Avowed. Night School Studio was acquired by Netflix in 2021 and is known for the game Oxenfree. In February 2025, Netflix announced layoffs at Night School Studio amidst broader changes, including the closure of its Blue studio and leadership reshuffling.

AppWizard

May 18, 2025

EA is reportedly cracking down on a Sims 4 mod. What it changes has fans furious

The Sims 4, developed by Electronic Arts, has maintained its popularity for over ten years, supported by a dedicated fan base and compatibility with modern hardware. The game recently released the Businesses & Hobbies Expansion Pack in March, allowing players to start their own small businesses. The community has also created numerous fan-made mods, some of which enhance gameplay, while others have sparked controversy, such as a mod aimed at removing diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) elements. This led to backlash and accusations of censorship when EA requested the mod's removal. Additionally, the conversation about diversity in video games has grown, with criticism directed at Sweet Baby Inc., a consulting firm, for its influence on narrative choices in games like Alan Wake 2 and God of War Ragnarok, resulting in organized boycotts against games associated with the firm.