How to Make a HIT Indie Game (Story-Driven) / "The Formula" | The Art of Game Design

Check out Episode 2 on How to Make a Video Game Soundtrack! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1qPfH95ry84

"Make characters important to the story" - I disagree on that one. Sure, there will always be characters important to the story, but a world doesn't feel "real" when every character has some sort of connection to you. It's important to also have NPCs which have a believable life on their own. Characters that make you think that there are many more out there in that world, and how they may actually live when you are not around. That makes it easier to consider the world a real, functioning place. If everything revolves around the player then it gives the impression that the world really was just built for the player (of course it always is, but you don't want to be reminded of that).

6 years later and this video is still helping out solo indie devs like me who don’t know shit about writing, really well made video!

You talked about OneShot. I can die happy.

this video is the living proof that with only a small amount of subs, you can make a video with great quality. you can see he really did his best to explain this subject to us, you have earned a new sub

I was randomly cheered up cause you used my favorite word: phantasmagorical

The people seem to love creepy cute games..

Art actually is pretty important to the story more than just a "good selling point". Yea, the art doesnt have to look technically good, but it still is usually designed to fit the theme/atmosphere of the story. Undertale would be a different game if it had an anime art style or something (imo). If the art in a good game is bad (or like not like detailed i guess), it is usually very intentional. Character design, shape language, color theory, and the complexity of the art are all important, and can even be important to the story. I guess I understand what you mean by saying it doesnt matter if the game has a "bad art style", but like games with bad artsyles werent good despite the art style. Art matters ALOT to a game and im just kinda salty that you said it didnt matter at all.

Nice video. It was very helpful. :)

Oh good! I was worried this was just going to be an undertale praisefest like every other video for the past 3 years but it actually went of other games. Thank you for the nice surprise.

Well when I was 11 or 12, I started thinking about a story game that I could shortly make for fun later when I can code, and then the more im aging the more im making characters, a story and lore about the game itself all in my head and because of that video im thinking about even more things to make the game special and just thank you i'll make this formula get stuck in my head

This is exactly what I look for in story-based games!

Honestly surprised he didn’t talk about Drawn To Life. It also addresses you as a god, the creator, and you draw things into existence. The game takes place in a world where you have been gone for a long time, and the people of the world start to doubt you even exist anymore. It’s a really interesting connection to the player.

I'm so glad more people are finally talking about Writing. Anytime a movie, or video game or t.v. show is analyzed, they always discuss the visuals, the music, the acting.All of this is important mind you.But NONE of that would have existed had a solid story not been written to lay all that on top of.Writing is the least celebrated art form in our entertainment sphere today, yet it is so crucial to our connecting with meaningful content.

Oxenfree is a good example of all the criteria coming together nicely

I've been waiting for this video. I wanted to make a story driven game but dont know how to like will they like the characters music etc thx for the tips. Good job on the video btw

Its such a shame this is your only game design video :( I hope you make more soon

Aight, it's about time I try this out.

This was an incredibly well made video. Thank you.

Man this is now one of my favourite videos on youtube. Its so so good, so helpful. Very well explained. Im so waiting for more videos like this. Thank you so much for this!