Assistant Professor, Department of Media Arts, Religion and Media Faculty, IRIB University, Qom, Iran. , ali.razizadeh@iribu.ac.ir
Abstract: (26 Views)
Over the past four decades, video games have evolved from simple, linear structures into complex media with advanced capabilities in narrative design and interactivity. Central to this transformation is the concept of player agency, referring to the player’s ability to make decisions and influence the course of the narrative. This study aims to analyze the historical and structural development of agency within interactive narratives, asking how this agency has shifted from reactive and constrained models in early generations to dynamic, branching, and impactful systems in later video game generations. To address this question, a comparative content analysis method were employed, examining a selected sample of 50 video games spanning from the first to the sixth generation. The research focuses on narrative structures, degrees of player autonomy, and decision-making patterns embedded in narrative design. Findings indicate that early-generation games implemented agency in limited, repetitive forms governed by predefined logic. In contrast, technological advancements have enabled the emergence of more complex narrative architectures, where players’ decisions directly affect the storyline, character relationships, and even game endings. By highlighting the interplay between agency and narrative design, this study demonstrates that the expansion of player agency is not only a distinguishing feature of modern games, but also a force that redefines the very notion of narrative in digital contexts. In these contemporary frameworks, narrative unfolds not as a fixed sequence but as a dynamic, responsive network shaped by player choice, a participatory structure that blurs the line between production and consumption, transforming gameplay into a space for creative expression, moral engagement, and digital identity formation.
Article number: 12
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