Video games are storytelling powerhouses, combining visual art, music, gameplay, and writing into immersive experiences that can rival books and films. But unlike movies or novels, games offer player agency which is unique to the medium.
But crafting a killer video game, whether from an original idea or adapting from a current IP, isnโt just about telling a story, but building a world the player can interact with, characters they care about, and choices that matter.ย
From narrative-heavy RPGs, to fast-paced FPSs and clever puzzle games, a video game script is a blueprint for how the story unfolds.
โAs a genre, videogames take our minds on journeys, and we can control and experience them much more interactively than passively – especially when they are well-designed.โ โ John Maeda
So, youโre probably here because you want to write a video game or are an avid gamer yourself whoโs curious about the process. Either way, this guide is for you as we walk through the process of writing a video game script, from concept to dialogue trees, so you can bring your interactive story to life.
Without further ado, letโs dive into the video game world.
Table of Contents
- What is a Video Game Script?
- Linear vs. Branching Narratives
- Script Formatting for Games
- Writing Dialogue Trees and Decision Points
- Mapping Multiple Outcomes
- Game Logic Structures
- Game Genre Considerations
- Examples of Game Scripts
- Tools to Keep Your Story Organized
- FAQ
- Conclusion
What is a Video Game Script?
A video game script is the written foundation for everything narrative in a game.
Whatโs included? Wellโฆ
- Main story arcs and missions
- Character backstories and development
- Dialogue (spoken or text-based)
- Environmental storytelling (notes, signs)
- Item descriptions and world lore
- Decision points and outcomes
A video game script is different from a film script as it must accommodate interactivity, player choices, and often non-linear storylines. Itโs as much about planning and structure as it is about storytelling and voice.
Multi-Layered Structure
Unlike a movie script, a typical game script has multiple layers, starting with narrative design: the big picture story, world-building, lore, and how the narrative integrates with gameplay.
Next come the scenes, including cinematics, cutscenes, and scripted events. This comes alongside interactive dialogue with branching conversations, choices, and consequences. Finally, flavor text are descriptive pieces that enhance immersion.
The most important thing to remember about video game structure is that the script isnโt just a document but a story engine.
Linear vs. Branching Narratives
Video games narratives tend to come in two forms: linear or branching. Letโs break them down as well as the pros and cons to both:
Linear Narratives
In a linear game, the story progresses along a fixed path, like The Last of Us or Uncharted. The playerโs actions move the story forward, but the main arc doesnโt change.
Pros:
- Strong authorial control over pacing and emotional beats
- Easier to write and structure
- Ideal for cinematic experience
Cons:
- Limited player agency
- Lower replayability
Branching Narrative
Branching games, just like Mass Effect, The Witcher 3, or Detroit Become Human, offer players choices that influence the mass outcome.
Pros:
- High player engagement
- Immersive and personal storytelling
- Multiple playthroughs
Cons:
- Much more complex to write
- Requires careful planning and logic
- Can be resource-intensive to implement
Of course, you can blend both linear and branching narratives, offering the player critical decision points within otherwise linear storylines. Just like God of War: Ragnarok or Horizon Forbidden West.
Script Formatting for Games
Game scripts donโt follow traditional screenplay format. Instead, they often include elements such as:
- Scene ID/Event Name
- Character name
- Player input/choice options
- Dialogue lines
- Conditional triggers
- Voice-over tags or subtitles
Hereโs a sample format:
SCENE ID: 045 โ The Confrontation
CHARACTER: PLAYER (Choice)
- โIโm not here to fight.โ
- โYou betrayed me. Now pay.โ
IF CHOICE 1:
NPC: โThen why are you here?โ
IF CHOICE 2:
NPC: โYou donโt understand what Iโve done!โ
(Trigger: Combat sequence if Choice 2 is selected)
The key is to use clear headers and logic conditions to help your script integrate smoothly with developers, designers, and voice actors.
Writing Dialogue Trees and Decision Points
Letโs take a deeper dive into branching narratives, as itโs one of the most complex, and rewarding parts of video game writing. Dialogue trees give players control over interactions and relationships.
When creating the dialogue trees for your scenes, there are some top tips you can follow to make your life easier:
1. Every choice should feel meaningful
Avoid โfakeโ choices where all responses lead to the same outcome. Your players need to feel as though they are guiding the narrative.
2. Show character personality in options
Let your players role play through the choices and make each slightly different. They should still reflect the characterโs personality. For example, diplomatic vs aggressive.
3. Track the emotional or moral consequences
Use flags or variables to affect future scenes based on past dialogue so you can keep track of everything and not lose any threads.
4. Keep branches manageable
Too many branches can quickly become a narrative nightmare. A great way to keep organized is to use convergence points and bring different choices back to a core path when needed.
5. Use concise, impactful writing
Rambling dialogue is no fun to listen to or read, and both voice actors and players donโt want to wade through it. Be mindful about how much dialogue youโre writing and keep to the point of each scene.
Mapping Multiple Outcomes
Okay, so how do you actually keep track of a branching narrative and the multiple options youโre presenting to your players? Well, thatโs where visual mapping tools or flowcharts come in. Theyโre a great way to lay out story paths, flags and consequences.
Here are some popular tracking methods:
- Flowcharts use boxes and arrows to visualize paths
- Spreadsheets are great for tracking dialogue, scenes, flags, and conditions
- Storyboarding software like Twine, Articy: Draft or Miroย
A good practice is to define major outcome categories early, like a good ending, neutral ending, or bad ending. Then work out the design choices from there to steer the player toward those paths while still offering moment-to-moment variety.
Whether your game’s script is linear or choice-driven, Celtx helps you organize scenes, characters, and outcomes with ease.
Click here to get started (it’s free)!
Game Logic Structures
In video game writing, itโs not just what you write but how the game reacts. Gamer logic structures help your story respond to the playerโs choices. As writers, we donโt need to code these systems, but itโs crucial we understand them.
Flags
These are simple on/off switches that track whether something happened, such as if the player rescued another character. Later, that flag can change dialogue or events.
Variables
Variables store values that shift over time, like a characterโs trust level or the playerโs karma. They influence reactions and can unlock or block paths.
Conditions
Conditions use logic like โif X is true, show Yโ. Theyโre the foundation of branching dialogue and consequences.
States
Characters can exist in different states like friendly, neutral and hostile. They change based on the playerโs actions, affecting how they speak, behave, and respond.
Choices and Consequences
Player decisions can lead to different outcomes. Some are immediate and others have ripple effects. Always write with cause and effect in mind.
Triggers
Triggers are moments that launch new scenes or actions once certain conditions are met. Think of them as story launchers tied to gameplay.
Dialogue Gates
Certain lines of dialogue are usually only available if the player meets specific conditions, like having a high charisma score or completing a quest earlier.
If youโre writing a video game, always track choices and outcomes and clearly label alternate scenes or dialogue.
Game Genre Considerations
Like movies, thereโs a wide range of video game genres and your script should match your chosen genre and tone for your game.
Different genres emphasize different aspects of storytelling, so make sure you carefully consider your choice!
Letโs take a look at the most popular video game genres and their conventions:
Role Playing Games (RPGs)
- Heavy on world building and lore
- Branching storylines and multiple dialogue trees
- Player choices deeply affect the world
Examples of RPGs include Skyrim and Baldurโs Gate 3.
First Person Shooters (FPSs)
- Tend to be linear or semi-linear storytelling
- Emphasis on high stakes set pieces
- Dialogue is typically brief, cinematic, or environmental
Call of Duty and Halo are two of the most popular FPS game series around.
Puzzle Games
- The narrative often takes a backseat, but can add intrigue and emotional depth
- Environmental storytelling is key
- Dialogue is usually minimal or symbolic
Puzzle games include Portal and The Witness.
Action-Adventure
- Blend of combat, exploration, and narrative
- Strong protagonist-focused stories
- Often uses linear storytelling with emotional arcs and cinematic moments
Tomb Raider, The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild and Ghosts of Tsushima are all legendary action-adventure games.
Platformers
- The story is often light but is visually and emotionally expressive
- Dialogue is minimal or non-existent
- Visual storytelling, music, and level design drive the emotional arc
Popular platformers include Ori and the Blind Forest, Celeste and Hollow Knight.
Other genres include open-world sandboxes like Red Dead Redemption 2 and Elden Ring, and strategy and simulation games like Civilization VI and Stellaris.
Ready to go from game concept to structured script?
Start writing with Celtx today.
Examples of Game Scripts
The trouble with video game scripts is that no two are the same, and there isnโt usually a centralized document. A lot of the time, the narrative is written as the game is developed with dialogue added in as the game takes shape.
In terms of examples, there are voiceover scripts available which show how dialogue is formatted when voice actors go into the booth to record. To view the Global Voice Academyโs examples, click here.
If youโre reading this in 2025, and are an avid game fan, you may already know that the video game scripts for The Last of Us 1 and 2 are being released at Christmas time! So, make sure to preorder now if youโre interested. You can find it here.
Tools to Keep Your Story Organized
The very nature of video game scripts mean that they can quickly spiral out of control without proper tools. Here are some popular ones:
Twine
- Ideal for writing and testing branching narratives
- Free and easy to learn
Articy: Draft
- An industry-grade tool for complex narrative design
- Uses visual maps, variables, and version control
Scrivener
- A powerful writing tools with corkboard and scene management
- Good for large story bibles
Google Sheets/Excel
- A free resource that can be used for tracking variables, dialogue lines and quest logic
Notion
- One of our personal favorites, Notion is great for building a living story bible with interlinked pages
Remember to choose tools that fit the size and scope for your project. Even a simple Word document can work if you stay consistent and organized.
For more on video games, check out the Game Makerโs Toolkit on YouTube.
FAQ
Do I need to write code to write a video game script?
Not necessarily, however youโll need to understand logic structures (if/else, variables, flags), but most narrative tools are very writer-friendly.
Whatโs the difference between a narrative designer and a game writer?
Narrative designers focus on integrating story with gameplay systems. Game writers, on the other hand, focus on the actual text and dialogue.
How do I write compelling characters?
Make sure to give your characters goals, flaws, relationships, and arcs. Let your players impact those arcs through the choices they make during gameplay.
What if my story is too big for the game?
If you feel this is the case, then trim or restructure your story and focus on delivering the core experience. Sometimes less is more in interactive storytelling.
How much dialogue is too much?
Only as much as the gameplay can support. A great tip is to test your pacing and let players skip or speed through non-critical dialogue.
Conclusion
Writing a video game script is a unique blend of storytelling, logic, and design thinking. Itโs not just about writing cool lines but about creating an immersive and interactive experience. You must think like a writer, a game designer, and a player all at once.
Start with your world and characters. Design choices that matter. Map your branching paths. Keep your formatting clear and your tools sharp. Most importantly, remember this: the best game stories arenโt told to the player, but are told with the player.
Now grab your keyboard, open that flowchart, and start writing the next great gaming experience.
And for more inspiration, we highly recommend The Corner of Story and Game, a podcast by Gerald Ford.
Celtx isnโt just for film.
Start your interactive story with tools built to support nonlinear narratives.
Write your game script today
You might also like:
- How to Write Dialogue That Feels Real โ Essential for player choices and immersive cutscenes.
- How to Format a Screenplay โ Covers the foundations of structure and pacingโkey even in interactive stories.
- Building Better Characters โ Because in games, players don’t just meet charactersโthey become them.
