When you’re competing against studios with full orchestras, motion capture stages, and marketing budgets the size of small countries, it’s easy to feel like your indie game doesn’t stand a chance.
They have the money.
They have the people.
They have the brand recognition.
So how do you — with your small team, your late nights, and your shoestring budget — stand out?
Here’s the truth:
AAA games can buy spectacle.
But they can’t buy heart.
AAA Has the Money, But You Have the Magic
Let’s be honest: AAA titles have things you simply don’t.
Massive budgets.
Global teams.
Custom in-house tools.
Photo-realistic graphics.
Orchestral soundtracks.
Dozens of voice actors.
But there’s one thing they can’t buy — and it’s the one thing that matters most.
Story.
Your story.
Some of the most impactful stories ever told were created by a single person, often when they were “down on their luck.”
No amount of money can outmatch authentic creativity.
Because great story isn’t born from budget.
It’s born from vision, craft, and connection.
Why Narrative Design Is the Indie Superpower
If all it took to make a great story was money, every AAA game would be unforgettable.
But they aren’t.
In fact, many are, unfortunately, quite forgettable.
Players abandon massive, 100+ hour titles every day — not because the graphics are bad, but because the story doesn’t speak to them.
Meanwhile, indie games like Ori and the Blind Forest or CrossCode win the hearts of players around the world.
Both of those games made me feel something profound — joy, connection, awe — with just a handful of characters, simple graphics, and an intentionally crafted world.
That’s the difference.
AAA studios often chase market trends, financial reports, and franchise deadlines.
You, on the other hand, can chase truth.
And truth is the most powerful narrative element of all.
What Players Actually Remember
Players rarely talk about the polygon count or the texture detail years later.
Instead, they talk about moments.
That one-liner that hit close to home.
That awkward conversation with a character that caused laughter for months.
That decision that made them pause before they clicked.
That ending that made them tear up because it felt personal, and gave them hope.
Good narrative design gives players something to care about.
It transforms your game from an experience they just play into one they want to remember forever.
That’s why narrative design isn’t just a storytelling technique.
It’s a competitive advantage.
And it’s something AAA studios will never be able to take from you.
Two Ways to Start Using That Advantage — Right Now
Thankfully, you don’t need to overhaul your entire process to start designing better stories right now.
Here are two exercises you can do today to improve your narrative immediately.
1. The “Player Promise” Exercise
Ask yourself:
“What do I want my player to feel when they finish my game?”
Not what happens.
Not what twist they uncover.
What they feel.
Write that down in one sentence. That’s your Player Promise.
Then, as you design each choice, dialogue line, or quest, ask:
“Does this lead my player closer to that feeling?”
If it doesn’t, it’s an opportunity to rework it until it does.
You’ll be amazed how much more cohesive, impactful, and meaningful your story becomes when you design around a feeling, not just a plot.
2. The “Story Value” Test
Try this quick comparison exercise:
Think of one AAA game that made you cry — or didn’t.
Now think of one indie game that did.
For me, Ori and the Blind Forest and CrossCode were unforgettable.
They made me smile, reflect, and even feel lighter after playing.
They made me a better person.
The interesting thing is, Ori and the Blind Forest doesn’t have any dialogue, and CrossCode has some of the best dialogue I’ve ever experienced.
They didn’t rely on shock value or endless cinematics.
They relied on truth.
That’s your secret weapon as an indie creator.
You don’t need more spectacle — you need more sincerity.
So, as you build your next narrative, ask:
“Am I designing for truth, or am I designing for spectacle?”
Choose truth. Every time.
The Tools and Guidance to Make It Happen
If you’re reading this, it means you already have creativity — a critical part.
What most developers struggle with next are the right tools and the right guidance.
A few years ago, I was in the same place.
I had ideas. I wanted to make stories that mattered.
But the tools for actually designing complex, branching narratives were… nonexistent.
That’s why I built NarrativeFlow.
It’s the tool I wish I had when I started — a way to visually design and organize your story, track hundreds of choices, and turn your creativity into a playable narrative.
Since then, I’ve written hundreds of thousands of words in narrative design for games.
I’ve seen what works, what fails, and what truly connects with players.
So, if you’re serious about improving your storytelling — and ready to take your game’s narrative to the next level — I’d love to help guide you on that journey.
A Free Resource to Help You Get Started
To help you begin, I created a free resource called 12 Insights for Crafting Stories Players Actually Care About.
It’s a practical, no-fluff guide to narrative design that you can apply immediately — even if you’ve never written a single line of dialogue before.
Whether you’re building your first indie game or refining your tenth, it’ll help you write stories that players feel, not just play.
Because your story is possible — and it can change the world, no matter who you’re competing with.
Your creativity is your power.
Your story is your lever.
And narrative design is how you move the world.