Designing for ludonarrative harmony: A framework-based evaluation of interactive storytelling

Abstract

This thesis examines the conditions that lead to ludonarrative harmony, a state in which gameplay systems and narrative structures work together to enhance the player's experience through meaningful integration of interactivity and storytelling. The concept of ludonarrative harmony has developed alongside ongoing critiques of ludonarrative dissonance, yet much of the scholarly discourse has focused on identifying problematic cases rather than offering constructive, repeatable methods to achieve coherent experiences. To fill this gap, the thesis proposes a complete, structured evaluation framework designed both for analyzing existing works and for supporting the creation of new interactive stories. The study relies on an interdisciplinary literature review spanning game studies, human–computer interaction (HCI), narratology, and design theory, establishing the conceptual background necessary for understanding how narrative meaning can emerge from systems and player action. Building on this foundation, the thesis introduces a six-pillar model for measuring ludonarrative harmony. These six axes examine how different components of a game work together to align narrative and gameplay: Mechanic–Theme Alignment, Feedback–Narrative Consistency, Player Role Fidelity, Narrative Impact of Choice, Emergent–Embedded Harmony, and Progression–Structure Synchronization. Each axis captures a distinct aspect of narrative–mechanic interaction. For example, Mechanic–Theme Alignment evaluates whether core gameplay verbs reflect the work's thematic intentions, while Feedback–Narrative Consistency considers how visual, audio, and systemic feedback reinforce the narrative tone at key moments. Other axes highlight the player's enacted role, the narrative consequences of choice, the balance between emergent and authored storytelling, and the relationship between story structure and in-game progression. To test the model's utility and robustness, the framework was applied across multiple case studies involving both digital and analog formats. Digital examples include Before Your Eyes, Outer Wilds, Dead Space, BioShock, and Marvel's Spider-Man, each offering different systems, narrative ambitions, and player experience goals. Analog cases such as tabletop role-playing games, escape rooms, and the collectible card game Magic: The Gathering extend the inquiry beyond screens and highlight how narrative–mechanic alignment operates across diverse formats. These cases were selected precisely because they feature distinct mechanics and narrative strategies, enabling meaningful cross-format comparison and demonstrating the flexibility of the framework. Results indicate that ludonarrative harmony is not merely an aspirational ideal but a tangible design outcome that can be systematically achieved when narrative intent is built directly into mechanics, feedback systems, incentives, and player roles. Games tend to deliver more emotionally resonant and thematically coherent experiences when their rules, progression structures, and feedback channels express the same meanings that the narrative seeks to convey. The proposed framework proved effective both as a tool for critical analysis and as a practical design aid, offering developers and researchers a structured method to evaluate, refine, and intentionally pursue narrative coherence. In conclusion, this thesis presents a systematic and pragmatic approach to integrating narrative and gameplay, transforming ludonarrative harmony from a retrospective critical lens into an actionable design goal. It provides a replicable foundation for assessing narrative–mechanic alignment, supports cross-media comparison, and offers a methodological contribution that can guide future research, development practice, and critical discourse on interactive storytelling.