Storytelling has never played a more vital role today in the constantly evolving video game market. Fueling every rich RPG, emotionally engaging indie title, or AAA phenomenon hit is the imagination of a narrative designer’s mind. These imaginative minds craft characters, worlds, and experiences through dialogue, storytelling, and player interaction. If you are an emerging storyteller with a love for games, a degree program in Game Narrative Design can be the door to your dream career.
Following are some of the best universities that offer cutting-edge programs especially for game narrative design and storytelling.
Why Study Game Narrative Design
Video games are not just about graphics and gameplay anymore—now they’re about emotional experiences and good storytelling. A game narrative design degree equips students with:
- Interactive media-specific story techniques
- Scriptwriting experience in non-linear and branching dialogue
- Time spent working with artists, developers, and sound designers
- Game mechanics and their influence on story
This cross-disciplinary field incorporates literature, writing, game development, psychology, and other fields.
Top Game Narrative Design Universities
Below are some top universities with degree programs in game narrative or explicit narrative emphasis in their game development programs.
1. University of Southern California (USC) – School of Cinematic Arts
Location: Los Angeles, California, USA
Program: Interactive Media & Games B.A./M.F.A.
Highlights:
- Ranked as among the world’s top game design schools annually
- Offers courses like Storytelling for Interactive Media and Interactive Narrative Design
- Close industry connections, with alumni employed in major studios like Naughty Dog and Riot Games
USC’s program is equally theoretical and practical so that students can experiment with interactive storytelling tools and game engines like Unity and Twine.
2. New York University (NYU) – Tisch School of the Arts
Location: New York City, USA
Program: BFA in Game Design with a Concentration in Narrative Design
Highlights:
- Situated in one of the world’s creative capitals
- Electives and workshops with narrative focus
- Opportunities to work side by side with playwrights, screenwriters, and digital artists
NYU’s program is especially appealing to students who want to merge traditional storytelling with advanced narrative design.
3. University of Utah – Entertainment Arts and Engineering (EAE)
Location: Salt Lake City, Utah, USA
Program: Bachelor’s and Master’s in Games
Opportunities:
- Provides narrative-intensive courses under its game track
- Blended interdisciplinary studies that combine the study of storytelling, design, and technology
- Famed across the globe for its renowned faculty and student-run game productions
This program is ideal for students who want to work on every stage of game development but would also like to gain narrative skills.
4. Abertay University
Location: Dundee, Scotland, UK
Course: BA (Hons) in Game Design and Production
Notable features:
- Has a narrative focus in technical and creative game development studios
- Was one of the first colleges in Europe to teach games
- Collaborates with local game studios and has game jams
Abertay is now established as an incubator of brilliant indie game designers, so it’s an excellent option for students who must be innovative in storytelling.
5. Sheridan College – Bachelor of Game Design
Location: Ontario, Canada
Program: Bachelor of Game Design
Highlights:
- Strong narrative craft, worldbuilding, and character arc focus
- Hands-on practical learning with industry-standard tools and team collaboration
- Has a “Capstone Project” where students design complete games with narrative at their core
Sheridan’s program trains students for real-world careers in a hands-on and interdisciplinary way.
Narrative Design Program Expectations
Core Curriculum:
- Narrative Theory in Games
- Interactive and Non-linear Storytelling
- Scriptwriting for Games
- Game Mechanics and Story Integration
- Character and World Creation
- Game Engines and Prototyping
Shared Tools Taught:
- Unity / Unreal Engine
- Twinengine
- Ink (by Inkle)
- Ren’Py (for visual novels)
- Celtx / Final Draft for scriptwriting
Most also provide internship experience, co-op work assignments, and exhibitions to allow students to build excellent portfolios for the job market.
Career Opportunities After Graduation
A game narrative design degree opens the doors to a host of creative careers in the video game industry and beyond:
- Narrative Designer
- Game Writer / Scriptwriter
- Quest Designer
- Creative Director
- Interactive Fiction Author
Transmedia Storyteller
Because gaming is now among the largest entertainment sectors in the world, talented storytellers are a sought-after product.
FAQ
Do I need programming skills to study game narrative design?
Not necessarily. While some technical understanding is helpful, most courses focus on writing, design thinking, and story building.
Can I learn game narrative online?
Yes. SCAD and Full Sail University, to name just two, both offer online classes with strong narrative focus.
Do I have a portfolio?
No.
Actually. Having a decent portfolio of game scripts, interactive fiction, or prototype games can actually do a lot to help with internships or jobs.
Last Thoughts
Whether you see yourself creating the next big RPG or crafting standalone, story-driven indie titles, the proper academic program can make all the difference. Not only do these top-tier universities provide top-notch instruction in game narrative design, but also networking opportunities, collaboration, and on-the-job training to help you realize your stories—a quest, dialogue branch, or plot twist at a time.
Ready to craft the next great game story? Your adventure starts here.