22 Jun 5 Game Writing Tips for Indie Dev Success

5 Game Writing Tips for Indie Dev Success

Welcome to my new blog and game development journal/blog for game writing!

If you have been following my Patreon, I have decided to turn WormMoon into a visual novel style adventure game. After finding a good game engine with the tools to get the job done, I’m excited to forge with this new chapter in Heavy Rush Media and document my journey. For my first post, I will review some game writing tips I’ve learned over the years.  

Game Writing for Branching Narratives

Branching narratives can transform your game from a simple story into a highly replayable experience where players feel their choices truly matter. Here are five essential tips to boost your game writing skills as you craft compelling branching stories that keep players coming back.  

1. Make Every Choice Feel Meaningful

Players want to feel like their decisions have real impact, not just cosmetic differences. Avoid shallow branching where choices only change a single line of dialogue. Instead, ensure that major decisions lead to genuinely different story outcomes, character relationships, or gameplay consequences. When players replay your game, they should discover substantially different experiences based on their choices. Don’t be afraid to experiment with different tones and endings. Does your character have a happy ending awaiting them? Something darker? Or maybe a joke ending or two?  Having these twists and turns keeps the story fresh and engaging for players.

2. Outline Before You Write

Branching paths need careful planning to grow in the right directions. Create detailed outlines before writing any dialogue or narrative content. Using visual tools like Twine to map out your story structure can identify potential plot holes early (you can even make your own games using Twine if you so wish). Edit and keep track of manuscripts in a shared cloud folder.  I like to sue Google Docs, but you can work in your preferred type of word editor initially. This is especially crucial when working with multiple writers, as it keeps everyone aligned and prevents contradictory narrative elements. Which leads into my next tip…

3. Test and Edit Ruthlessly

Game writing, like any other type of writing needs extensive editing and proofreading. With the challenges that come from creating a branching narrative, the necessity compounds ten fold. Always edit and review your manuscripts thoroughly and involve your development team in the review process. Even beta testers can be useful in this regard. Programmers need to understand story structure and various paths to implement effectively and can offer a technical perspective to gameplay that game writers need to consider.

4. Track Your Variables Systematically

Keep meticulous track of story variables like character names, relationship statuses, previous choices, and inventory items. A robust variable system enables sophisticated dialogue options that reference past events and create personalized experiences. Tools like Dialogic for the Godot Engine and Fungus for Unity come with functionality for variables so you can implement and keep track of these vital elements. They can also help with player’s history, making each playthrough feel unique and tailored.  I personally like using Dialogic for my main tool and Twine for outlining.

5. Plan for Replayability from the Start

Design your branching structure with multiple playthroughs in mind. Players love discovering new paths, alternate endings, and hidden consequences of their decisions. Create enough meaningful variation that a second playthrough reveals genuinely new content, not just minor dialogue changes. This replay value significantly extends your game’s lifespan and player engagement.  Lets players will also appreciate exploring new content as they share gameplay with their audiences, which will assist in marketing efforts for your indie game. Never underestimate the word of mouth effect and the ability of games to go viral!

Game writing is a challenging undertaking, but it doesn’t have to be daunting or impossible.  With the right preparation beforehand, you can make great and engaging games!  If you enjoyed this article, please feel free to share with fellow devs and stay tuned for more of my dev diaries.