Communications in Humanities Research ISSN: 2753-7072
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Research Article

Does Choice Matter? Investigating Perceived Agency and Actual Control in Interactive Game Narratives

Haoran ZhangXiamen University*

* Corresponding author: [email protected]

Abstract

In narrative-driven games, player choice is often marketed as a core mechanic that grants players agency over the story. However, recent studies suggest that the perception of agency—the player's sense that their decisions matter—may carry more weight than actual narrative control. This paper explores the tension between perceived and actual agency in interactive storytelling, focusing on how narrative design techniques shape player experience without relying on extensive branching. Using close analysis of several representative games, this study examines how feedback design, emotional framing, and structural opacity influence the player's experience of meaningful choice. Drawing on narrative theory, game studies and cognitive psychology, the paper argues that agency in games is not strictly a mechanical function but a designed player feeling, often constructed through illusion and implication. By synthesizing theory with case analysis, this work highlights how narrative designers can craft compelling experiences of control, even within constrained systems.

Keywords: interactive storytelling; perceived agency; narrative games; player choice; game design
Published: November 5, 2025
DOI: 10.54254/2753-7064/2025.BJ28848
Volume: CHR Vol.79
pp. 188-195
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