Best Practice: Implementing Embedded Narrative to Enhance Storytelling and Player Immersion
Tianyu ZHANG
Level Design
Best Practice: Implementing Embedded Narrative to Enhance Storytelling and Player Immersion
For my Thesis project, I researched and applied best practices for implementing Embedded Narrative in video game level design, with the goal of enhancing storytelling and player immersion. Embedded Narrative refers to environmental clues and artifacts that invite players to piece together a backstory beyond the main plot, and I was drawn to this topic because of how powerful games like Elden Ring, BioShock, and What Remains of Edith Finch used Embedded Narrative to create deeply memorable experiences.
The project took me around ten months from research to final build.“ Hidden Secret” is a single-player custom Dying Light level that focuses on applying best
practices of implementing Embedded Narrative at the level to enhance players’ story understanding and immersion. The players will learn the backstory of the level from exploring Embedded Narrative in the game.
The project deepened my skills in level design, environmental storytelling, user research methodology, and survey design. This research has clear value for the video game industry, as it offers practical, evidence-backed guidelines that level designers can use to craft richer, more immersive narrative experiences by using Embedded Narrative.
74 LEVEL DESIGN