Seven Storytelling Techniques Modern Games Borrow from Cinema

The worlds of cinema and video games have long influenced each other, but recent years have seen a significant crossover in storytelling techniques. As video games evolve, they strive to offer more than just interactive experiences—they aim to tell compelling, cinematic stories that rival the emotional depth and narrative complexity of films. This fusion has paved the way for modern games to adopt storytelling methods from Hollywood, enriching the medium’s narrative powers.

1. Non-Linear Narratives

Films like Pulp Fiction and Memento popularized non-linear storytelling, weaving events out of chronological order to heighten suspense and encourage active audience engagement. Modern games adopt similar techniques, allowing players to explore narratives from different angles.

Take The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt for example. The storyline isn’t just a straight path but branches in complex ways depending on player choices. Multiple timelines and cause-effect relationships create a layered narrative where outcomes feel personalized. This cinematic approach invites players to piece together the story like film viewers reconstruct fragmented scenes, lending a richer experience.

2. Cinematic Pacing and Framing

Directors carefully control scene pacing and framing to shape audiences’ emotional responses. Games increasingly borrow this technique through controlled cutscenes and scripted moments that mimic cinematic timing.

God of War (2018) exemplifies this by blending gameplay seamlessly with long cinematic shots and dramatic pauses. The pacing mirrors film drama, giving weight to story beats, character interactions, and revealing the emotional depth of protagonist Kratos. The result is a narrative rhythm familiar to film audiences—one that builds tension, releases it, and draws viewers deeper into the world.

3. Character Development Through Visual Storytelling

“Show, don’t tell” is a cinematic staple, where story and character traits are conveyed through visuals, set design, and actor expressions instead of exposition.

Games increasingly use environmental storytelling—a concept filmmakers have long employed—to create immersive worlds. The game Red Dead Redemption 2 masterfully uses this by placing players in a living, breathing world filled with subtle visual cues. Abandoned campsites, weather effects, and NPC behaviors all hint at the story behind the scenes and shape player understanding without heavy dialogue. This encourages players to discover character depth as moviegoers do through visual cinematic details.

4. Use of Cinematic Techniques: Camera Angles and Lighting

Cinema uses specific camera angles and lighting schemes to evoke emotions—close-ups for intimacy, low angles for power, shadows for mystery. Modern games adopt these tools to reinforce narrative tone and immerse players.

For example, The Last of Us Part II utilizes close-up shots during emotional dialogues, showing characters’ subtle facial expressions in incredible detail. Dynamic lighting shifts highlight mood changes, such as ominous scenes bathed in blue or warm lighting to reflect hope. This cinematic precision helps players connect deeply to the story, similar to a well-directed film.

5. Use of Sound and Music to Reinforce Narrative

Cinema has long leveraged scores and sound design to elevate storytelling. Video games borrow this approach extensively.

Narrative games like Life is Strange integrate emotional musical scores to underscore key moments, such as Chloe and Max’s reunions, pairing evocative melodies with clips that deepen narrative resonance. Audio cues provide subtle hints about impending danger or character states—mimicking the film’s ability to guide audience emotions through sound.

6. Complex Dialogue and Scriptwriting

Modern games now prioritize script quality and dialogue complexity much like screenplays do. This elevates character realism and narrative depth.

The game Disco Elysium is a prime example, featuring densely written, branching conversations that impact the story dramatically. The screenplay-like writing nurtures rich character arcs and player-driven storytelling, showing how the language of cinema—snappy, meaningful dialogue—has become central to impactful game narratives.

7. Use of Flashbacks and Voiceover Narration

Techniques such as flashbacks and voiceover narration are staples in drama and thriller films, providing insight into character motivations and backstory.

Games like Bioshock Infinite implement flashbacks to reveal key past events that influence the present. Voiceover narration guides players through psychological layers and internal monologues, deepening immersion by allowing direct access to characters’ thoughts—bridging the connection between player and narrative much like a cinematic voiceover would.

Conclusion

The convergence of cinema and video games marks a pivotal evolution in storytelling. Through techniques such as non-linear narratives, cinematic pacing, visual storytelling, and nuanced dialogue, games borrow the best of film to craft narratives that are immersive, emotional, and richly layered. As gaming technology advances, this hybrid approach will only deepen, challenging the way stories are told and experienced.

For players and developers alike, understanding these cinematic techniques is crucial—they're not just styles borrowed from film but tools that transform interaction into storytelling art. Whether you’re a gamer craving deeper tales or a creator aiming to master narrative craft, recognizing these influences opens up vast storytelling potentials.

References:

• Games mentioned: The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, God of War (2018), Red Dead Redemption 2, The Last of Us Part II, Life is Strange, Disco Elysium, Bioshock Infinite.
• Film examples: Pulp Fiction, Memento.
• Industry insights: Narrative design discussions from gamesindustry.biz and GDC talks on interactive storytelling.

By embracing cinema’s storytelling power, modern games are no longer just games—they’re interactive epics and emotional journeys that redefine entertainment.