discussion Do you prefer games with a linear or nonlinear story?

[bigshot3332]

I like making impact, and I especially like chasing after specific characters instead of just being shown everyone. Let me make my own harem, dammit!

 

[mehgg]

Both are great. I tend to mix it up. Non-linear games tend to be much longer and can be exhausting if I don't take a break.

 

[poisonthewell]

Both for different reasons. If i know something isn't linear beforehand then I can prepare myself to take it slow and relax into it.

 

[dkkop]

Nonlinear if done well is the best, but it's a lot of effort to do right and often leads to a lot of meandering around trying to figure what you have to do to trigger a flag, like checking every location related to a character to see if you missed a certain event or pickup.

A linear story is much easier to do well and keep cohesive.

 

[dudetts]

I prefer linear because I can't be arsed to replay games. In non linear games I feel forced to use a guide to see most of the game on the first go

 

[CndnViking]

SOME linearity to the broad plot is fine, but my question would be: is this a game or just a visual novel? Cause it's not like we get a lot of "gameplay" in these things, right? So the only thing that really makes them a "game" is being able to make choices, so if it's strict 100% linear, it's not a game.

So like, I'm fine if it always ends up in more or less the same place in the end, but if there's NO branching story at all that allows us to impact it, then just call it a visual novel and be done with it.

 

[archaelon01]

Depends a lot in how it's done. I like both if they're done right. Hard to say one or the other, but a linear good game is definitely better than a non-linear bad game, where the game doesn't tell you anything or at least give hints about what you're supposed to do.

 

[shakazulu232]

Usually linear, but ok with multiple plot lines

 

[iNobble]

Not a fan of KNs, I like to have some freedom and flexibility in how I play. I think it's more immersive, and gives more of an incentive to re-play the game. I think that's one of the reasons Being a Dik is constantly championed as the best VN. No 2 runs are ever the same

 

[asvgdad]

I like making decisions on my own so I prefer nonlinear. When there is only one option, I feel like I am getting forced to choose that in order to proceed.

 

[HankJohn]

Love non-linear. But seen games get abandoned for being too ambitious on it.

 

[Nowaise]

For games, either SFW or NSFW, do you prefer linear or nonlinear stories? Do you like having to make choices to alter what happens or prefer to simply experience a predetermined story?

Personally I prefer nonlinear, I like making choices that have meaning and gives those games a lot of replayability!

Nonlinear stories leave more options for interesting storytelling, but a linear story is much easier to tell and follow, not to mention it gives the author the most power over the experience, so you usually get a higher quality product. I prefer experiencing the former, but they're very hit-or-miss.

 

[victor27115]

I really like non-linear games—first of all, because the story changes significantly; you can replay them making different choices and the story shifts again. You have to think, put yourself in the character's shoes, and decide whether a move will be for the best or the worst. *Baldur's Gate* GOTY.

 

[Good penguin]

Games with a linear plot (novels) are a bit boring for me. It's easier to go read comics. I want to feel like I'm playing a game, not just clicking through dialogue.

 

[azhomeboy]

Non-linear, but with the author/developer having a vision or story that they are holding to... so small variations, but a well-written story being told.

 

[LarkFrquaad]

I like non-linear in theory, but I almost never go back to games for a second run as my backlog is too long. BG3 is the exception. I always end up feeling like I need to get it right if I’m to have the optimal playing experience. Linear games make it much easier for me to just sit and enjoy the story crafted for me, without feeling the fomo

 

[Digga123]

I would say a non linear game with really good content is better than a good linear game but a really good linear game with good story and good content is better than a non linear game

 

[MB1255_Reg]

Nonlinear stories leave more options for interesting storytelling, but a linear story is much easier to tell and follow, not to mention it gives the author the most power over the experience, so you usually get a higher quality product. I prefer experiencing the former, but they're very hit-or-miss.

Yeah you start to run into problems in non-linear stories when the branches spread out too far. I think a lot of the times the devs have great ideas, and start throwing in cool choices with visions in their mind of how those will pay off in different ways.

But once they're months or years deep in the dev cycle, and they realise they need to create 200 different outcomes of the latest choice, it starts to fall apart. They have to start joining branches together, taking away choices, or they get lazy and just abandon some paths all together, starting to release updates that are just focused on one path.

A good non-linear story, in my opinion, really needs to be planned out well end-to-end right off the bat. If the devs don't know where they're headed, they're going to get lost along the way.

 

[shqiptari]

I prefer non-linear. Not too grindy though. I also dislike games where cheating is a chore, mainly because I only cheat to avoid unnecessary grind.