Summary
Grand strategy games can sometimes be a bit bare in the narrative writing due to their emphasis on the gameplay aspects, such as managing a kingdom or even setting the course for an army’s invasion. However, some games managed to also have in-depth stories to fill in between the gameplay loop of a grand strategy game.
These games managed to capture the essence of storytelling in multiple aspects of their game, ranging from in-game events that can affect the gameplay, to flavor texts of the playable empires and civilizations that enrich the game’s deep lore further. Players can expect to be immersed in the narrative design of these games.
Avid players of grand-strategy games will be familiar with theCrusader Kingsfranchise and its ever-reliable narrative design. The latest entry in the series,Crusader Kings 3, brings back a plethora of dilemmas for the players to choose from as they try tojuggle their responsibilityas both an ambitious ruler and noble of their kingdom.
The core gameplay loop ofCrusader Kings 3is also entwined with the narrative writing of the game to immerse the players further, with the choices they make throughout the game affecting the kingdom they rule. Moreover, players can encounter a humongous number of random narrative events that will keep them engaged in the game.
6Romance Of The Three Kingdoms 13
Plot A Rebellion And Carve A Territory, Or Continue A Kingdom’s Survival
Although the Three Kingdoms era is more commonly associated withtheDynasty Warriorsseries,Romance of the Three Kingdomsseries can be said to be the progenitor of the games that have the specific era as its core story. Within the game, the player can choose to either live a life as one of the rulers of the Three Kingdoms, such as Cao Cao and Liu Bei or create a custom character to make their mark on the history of the Three Kingdoms.
The flexibility and freedom to choose different paths of life make this game a worthy contender for players of the grand-strategy genre to experience a rich narrative design in the game. Moreover, it can also serve as a learning experience for the players who are interested in the famous Three Kingdom era.
If a Trekkie, the term for aStar Trekfan, ever wonders how it would feel tolive in aStar Trekuniverse, then they can simply playStar Trek: Infiniteand live out every possibility inside the universe within their own choices. Experiencing the full consequences of their action can be interesting to observe as the events of the game start to diverge from the official universe, therefore creating the player’s own story within it.
Moreover, the grand strategy genre of the game will keep the player occupied with micromanagement as they attempt to live out their lives as either a leader of the Klingon Empire or the Romulan Star Empire.
4Nobunaga’s Ambition: Awakening
Relive A Samurai Historical Life Or Craft A Unique Destiny To Establish The Modern-Day Japan
It can be interesting to imagine how it would feel to live in the era of the Samurai where death can come swiftly by a katana slash and gunpowders are the key to winning a fiercely outnumbered battle.Nobunaga’s Ambition: Awakeninglets the players live that life and craft their own story as they try to both survive and lead the Sengoku Era.
The player can choose to play one of the most recognizable figures in the Sengoku Era, such as Oda Nobunaga, or create their own character where they can unite Japan under their own banner. However, the grand strategy genre of the game might require new players to learna few essential thingsto avoid getting beheaded in their first year.
With over 100 playable countries that exist in the year 1836,Victoria 3can be expected to have a myriad of historical events that can dictate the player’s country’s fate, be it beneficially or catastrophically, that can force them into a new playthrough. Coupled with the intricate grand strategy gameplay loop, a player can expect to sink hours into the game while getting immersed in their chosen country’s development.
The game’s design allows narrative events to influence the gameplay loop, such astriggering land reformsto fast-track a nation’s goals. With the narrative and gameplay loop design working together, a player can expect all of theirVictoria 3playthroughs to be continually fresh and exciting.
Centered around the classic story of humanity responding to an alien threat,Terra Invictaoffers a twist by having the player able to choose from different factions torespond to the threat. One of the factions, The Resistance, will have the player prioritize safeguarding humanity from the alien threat, while The Servants will instead try to support the alien by any means necessary to gain a foothold on Earth.
These different points of view from various factions enrich the game’s immersion as players will be able to both see and react to the invasion from multiple standpoints.
Due to its number of random events that contain tidbits of lore and narrative choices that affectStellaris' core mechanics, it is safe to say that the game can be one of the examples of a grand strategy game with a deep story that the player can explore. Even the premade empires in the game have their lore tidbits to prepare the player to make their own custom empire to craft their own story in the game.
Ranging from exploring labyrinths of archaeological dig sites to encounteringrandom humorous anomalies,Stellarisoffers a wealth of narrative choices and design that will satiate a player’s desire for immersion in the game.
