LUDONARRATIVE

The intersection of gameplay and story. Describes any moments in a game where a player is actively interacting with the game world while also experiencing narrative elements, which can be anything from walking through a haunted house, to collecting flowers for a digital girlfriend, to making a decision about whether or not to bomb Korea. It’s important to note that this term is used to describe how game and story interact, not to suggest that they merge into some new, singular concept.

“Experiencing Lara’s painful, traumatic and violent journey first-hand, rather than by simply watching it unfold, means Tomb Raider’s ludonarrative stays with players much longer than the rather familiar plot.”