How can you create meaningful player agency in a visual novel game?

give a player an excellent purpose or goal to pursue, Which will help you determine his or her character or behavior throughout the story. Make sure that your story has ups and downs to go through.

[ENG ??] It's not easy to have player agency in text based games as visual novels. Usually the player has a clear path and some routes to pick from not many choices (Usually A or B). Depending on the supporting game structure you'd want to have those elements being also relevant. If it has RPG elements, having alternative paths according to the player's attributes is rewarding (eg. a high strenght unlocking another dialogue option). In essence, whatever the player can pick for themselves it'd be good to have that reflected in relevant options in gameplay. If the game only allows for few player choices, make those interesting and different enough so the player feels the weight of their actions.

The most important parts of writing a story, especially for games, is to clearly define its essence and its driving force. What is it that will propel your story and, in-turn, your characters from one beat to the next, one chapter to the next, from one end of the arc to the other. For the essence, start with the name of your story. This will help distill your idea. For the drive, ask yourself, why have you chosen this story to tell and how might your character(s) change from this experience?

That's not an easy one. I think the uncomfortable truth is that player agency and the amount of content a player will see in any given playthrough are diametrically opposed. So I guess the answer is: don't be afraid to give players real choices, even if it affects playtime.

Branching Narratives: Design choices that significantly impact the storyline, leading to multiple possible outcomes. Character Relationships: Allow players to shape relationships with in-game characters through choices, impacting character dynamics and story progression. Consequences: Ensure that player decisions have tangible consequences, influencing the plot, character arcs, and game world. Multiple Endings: Provide diverse and satisfying endings based on player choices, encouraging replayability and personal investment in the narrative. Meaningful Choices: Craft choices that reflect the player's values, beliefs, or playstyle, making decisions feel impactful and reflective of the player's agency.

Using a decision-tree setup similar to investment portfolios gives a fresh perspective. Each main story path can be seen as an investment portfolio, with choices acting as diverse assets. By smartly distributing narrative resources based on player decisions, we create a dynamic yet controlled storytelling setting. This financial approach offers player flexibility while keeping a coherent narrative. Adding a risk-reward system like financial markets can raise the stakes of choices, making each decision impactful.

Balancing freedom and structure in a visual novel involves providing players with meaningful choices that influence the narrative direction while maintaining an overarching storyline. Design choices that align with the overall themes and goals of the game, ensuring a coherent experience. Establish a framework that guides the narrative flow but allows flexibility for divergent paths based on player decisions. Provide a sense of agency by making choices impactful, influencing character relationships, plot developments, and ultimately, multiple possible endings. Strive for a harmonious blend where player freedom enhances the experience without compromising the integrity of the storytelling structure.

Picture this: in your visual novel game, players aren't just spectators—they're the puppet masters pulling the strings! Offer choices like a buffet—meaningful decisions that impact the story's direction. Let them shape relationships, uncover secrets, and maybe even change the world (virtual, of course). Remember, giving players agency isn't just about branching paths; it's about making them feel like the real MVPs of the narrative. So, go ahead, give 'em the reins and watch their imaginations run wild!

I like to refer to the "Zero escape" series in that manner. The challenge is not only in giving the players choice, but also in giving significanse to the alternative paths. Some games work like personality tests. They will tell you how your personal choices reflect on you, you won't feel a need to try them again with different choices. Some games are like puzzle boxes, with each narrative path revealing only a part of the solution. I personally prefer the latter but the former is a legitimate type of VN as well, though it requires living with the possibility that many parts of your game will never be experienced except by very few tedious explorers (and not just some hidden Easter egges).

Balancing freedom and structure in novel game is the way you keep your players become involved in the story. In fact, they must become part of the scenario in order they to really start enjoying the game. They should be able to build their own story and have always the freedom to choose which way they wanna go further

There are a couple of strategies here to make things more interesting: 1) Slow-burn stakes. You can present an option that does not seem to have a meaningful outcome at first glance, but you've set up enough nuggets in the past that actually add up to a major consequence. 2) Add NPC bias into the mix. Apart from giving "door A or door B" situations, have NPCs present options that are colored by their biases.

There is a good balance of a lot of choices and too little choices. One of the things to work on is to make choices meaningful and have weight to it. Maybe even something as simple as what the protagonist is going to choose to eat for breakfast, with each choice creating a massively different outcome in the story. Look up the example of slay the princess.

To make choices meaningful in a visual novel, focus on ensuring that decisions have substantial consequences, directly impacting the narrative and player experience. Align choices with the core themes and objectives of the story, making them relevant to the overall plot. Introduce moral dilemmas, where decisions reflect the player's values, influencing character relationships and the trajectory of the storyline. Offer a variety of outcomes based on choices, providing a sense of ownership and personalization to the player's journey.

By understanding decision-making biases, we can create choices that deeply resonate with players. We can use the anchoring effect to frame choices in a way that subtly influences the player's perspective, causing them to question their own values and biases. Introducing cognitive dissonance elements will challenge the player's preconceptions and encourage a more reflective decision-making process. Additionally, incorporating elements of prospect theory can make choices feel more emotionally impactful.

One of the toughest things to get right in this category is consistency. Some games embrace the sense of chaos. letting the player be kind to their ally NPC for an entire playthrough only to have it all go to shit in the last minute. I recall how in infamous 2, I could play the entire game as a good guy, get on the best side of my friends and when I decide to make the "bad" choice in the end, nothing of what I did before mattered to my them, they still turned against me as if I was rotten to start with instead of trusting me. Again, embracing the chaos is a legitimate option but make sure it is intentional. In general try to avoid too clear "good" or "bad" paths, supermassive does it well in "The dark pictures anthology".

Constructive feedback is most effective when it is specific, actionable, and focused on behavior rather than personal attributes. Begin with positive aspects, acknowledging strengths and achievements, to create a supportive tone. Clearly articulate areas for improvement, offering concrete examples and suggestions for enhancement. Encourage a growth mindset by framing feedback as an opportunity for development rather than criticism. Consider the recipient's perspective and tailor feedback to their communication style and preferences. End on an encouraging note, expressing confidence in their ability to make improvements and highlighting the value of ongoing collaboration for mutual success.

By understanding that gaming experiences are social in nature, we can introduce a feedback loop driven by the community. This means that players' choices not only affect their own story but also contribute to a shared and evolving storyline experienced by the entire player community. This creates a sense of social interconnectedness and shared authorship, where players collectively shape the overall narrative landscape.

Testing and iterating are integral components of a successful development process. Begin by establishing clear testing objectives, identifying key performance indicators, and defining success criteria. Conduct thorough and systematic tests, focusing on both functionality and user experience. Collect data and feedback from users to gain insights into their interactions and preferences. Analyze the results to identify strengths, weaknesses, and areas for improvement. Iterate based on the findings, implementing changes and enhancements to address identified issues. Repeat this cycle of testing and iteration iteratively, ensuring continuous improvement and refinement throughout the development lifecycle.

Play through your visual novel with different choices to see how they flow and how impactful they are. Get feedback from others to identify confusing or unsatisfying choices. Refine your choices and their consequences based on your testing.

A mistake many people do in this phase is trying to please everyone. Story based content, especially very detail oriented one like that which you often see in visual novels will always vibe differently with different people. Don't let it go to your ego, but accept that your game is not meant just to tell people what they want to hear but also what you want to tell. Feedback should help you make the experience more coherent, cut the fat, clarify where it is too vague. Rethink only things which you see are misunderstood across the board. Try to please only with additions that please you as well. Niel Druckman said best that you owe the player only your honesty, nothing more.

This is a challenging one, as there are not many mass appeal visual novel games. In Torpor's Suzerain, player goes through a character evaluation, kind of an IKEA effect phase, where you read and read and digest your past to make an effective decision later on. While this adds a depth meaning, you need to consider having a non-linear story affect too. In Disco Elysium, there are skills involved, unique set of skills that represent aspects of the protagonist's psyche, such as intellect, empathy, and physical prowess. Regardless its a small genre with player base loving the depth.

In addition to testing and iteration, consider factors like user engagement and feedback loops. Actively seek user input during testing phases to understand their expectations and experiences, and use this feedback to inform your iterations. Pay attention to scalability and performance, ensuring that the game functions smoothly across various devices and user scenarios. Keep an eye on industry trends and competitor offerings, adapting your game to stay relevant and competitive. Consider the impact of cultural and regional differences, tailoring aspects of your game to diverse audiences for broader appeal. Accessibility is crucial; ensure your game is inclusive and usable for players with different abilities.

In my opinion, using even the smallest sandbox elements helps with this well. For example, I feel much better in visual novels with an 'open world' where the player's movement is not limited in one way or another