Gameplay Meets Narrative Innovation in Don’t Nod’s Life is Strange (2015)

Abstract

Storytelling has continuously evolved over the past years with the emergence of interactive narrative-driven video games. In contrast to traditional literature, video games integrate innovative concepts that give the player a full experience inside the game, where he becomes an active participant in the story. This genre of video games emphasizes structures such as non-linear chronology and episodic layouts, where players can radically influence the story and engage in moral dilemmas. This research examines the narrative structures in the innovation of storytelling in video games, particularly through temporality and morality. The study focuses on the 2015 game Life is Strange, a five-episode video game created by Don’t Nod Entertainment, a French video game developer and publisher company. This study employs a mix of approaches consisting of the theoretical approach, the philosophical approach, and the player-centered approach to gain a thorough grasp of the subject matter