Whether you’re working with a small indie team or on a sprawling AAA project, a game writer is often one of the last roles considered in a game development team. Coders, designers, and developers are usually prioritized, while a writer is often seen as non-essential. But a talented game writer brings enormous value to the table, enhancing every layer of your game. From immersive lore to complex characters, the work a writer does shapes a player’s emotional connection to the world you’ve created.
So, What Exactly Does a Game Writer Do?
Research
A game writer dives into extensive research to enhance the realism and immersion of your world. Depending on the setting of your game—whether it’s a futuristic dystopia, a medieval fantasy realm, or a historical adventure—the writer brings context and depth that makes the setting feel authentic.
For instance, imagine a game set during the Stone Age, like Far Cry: Primal. If the only guidance the development team has is "Stone Age setting," that could mean any period across a 3-million-year span. The beginning of the Stone Age had no humans as we know them, while the end had complex societies, art, and early trade systems. A game writer can pinpoint the exact era, ensuring accuracy and avoiding anachronisms. If your character is a Homo sapiens warrior facing Neanderthal enemies, there’s a specific window in prehistory where that makes sense. Even in fantasy worlds, consistency matters; Horizon Zero Dawn, for example, blends post-apocalyptic technology with tribal culture, drawing on recognizable elements while crafting something original.
For a science fiction game, a writer might research current scientific theories to make alien worlds feel plausible. In Mass Effect, writers created realistic space-faring civilizations and even developed plausible technological limitations. The idea of "element zero" as a core power source in the game’s universe isn’t real, but it’s grounded in the kind of speculative science that feels authentic. A game writer not only provides information but also builds a world that fits the vision—whether rooted in history, future technology, or pure fantasy.
World Building
World-building is essential in making a game feel alive and inviting players to lose themselves in it. Players will spend hours exploring your game’s world, and it needs to be intriguing and multi-layered. A game writer constructs that world for you, weaving together a tapestry of culture, history, and mythology to captivate players.
Consider The Elder Scrolls series. Its expansive lore, rich cultures, and detailed histories make the world of Tamriel feel like a living place with real political systems, social hierarchies, and religious beliefs. Each race and region in the game has distinct traits, architecture, and traditions. This intricate level of world-building keeps players engaged across multiple games. Similarly, in Dragon Age, the cities of Ferelden, Tevinter, and Orlais each feel like distinct places, with their own languages, cultures, and politics—all created by game writers who know that these layers build a more immersive world.
A game writer also considers flora, fauna, and other environmental elements. They might work with artists and designers to ensure that the forests feel as alien or natural as the world dictates. A game like The Witcher 3 doesn’t just have generic forests; its regions have specific types of creatures, plants, and weather patterns that suit each locale. A good game writer goes beyond the basics and crafts entire ecosystems, adding the small details that make your world memorable.
Story
A game writer doesn’t just create the main storyline—they craft a compelling narrative that gives meaning and motivation to every character in your game. They ensure that players understand why they’re doing what they’re doing, and that the characters they meet along the way have relatable motives and histories.
For example, The Last of Us wouldn’t be nearly as impactful without the careful character development and backstory of Joel and Ellie. Their motivations and fears shape the story and make the journey meaningful. A game writer considers these elements for every character, from the protagonist to the NPCs. In Red Dead Redemption 2, the main character Arthur Morgan isn’t just a gunslinger; he’s a man with a code, a history, and complex relationships with his fellow gang members. Players grow attached to the characters because each one has a story and motivation built by writers who understand the nuances of character development.
Even NPCs can become iconic when written well. Think of The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, where NPCs like Hestu, the giant Korok, add flavor to the world and give players a sense of place. Or Borderlands, where characters like Claptrap are as beloved as the main characters due to their unique personalities and quirks. A game writer gives every character, major or minor, a purpose, creating memorable interactions that players look forward to.
Quest Design
A game writer designs quests with purpose, taking them beyond “Fetch 10 items” or “Kill 40 monsters.” While certain mechanics may remain, a skilled writer provides a compelling motivation that makes these tasks feel significant. Instead of grinding for grinding’s sake, players find themselves engaged in a story with real stakes.
In The Witcher 3, a seemingly simple side quest to find a missing person unfolds into a complex narrative, revealing details about the world, the people in it, and the player’s role as Geralt. Similarly, Fallout: New Vegas features quests that branch depending on player choices, with multiple factions and moral consequences. A game writer can take a simple objective and add layers of story, conflict, and character, transforming it into an experience that players want to explore.
Even routine quests can become memorable with the right backstory. Imagine the difference between “Kill 40 monsters” and “Hunt down these creatures because they’re terrorizing a nearby village.” A game writer makes every quest feel as if it matters in the larger world.
Details
From dialogue to environmental storytelling, every detail in a game can be influenced by the writer. A game writer helps create the atmosphere, the tone, and the emotional weight of every interaction. They can guide the audio team on what kind of music to use for a boss battle versus a quiet moment by a campfire, or help the art team design costumes that reflect a character’s background and personality.
In Cyberpunk 2077, for example, everything from the neon-lit streets to the slang used by different gangs helps build the gritty world of Night City. The visual style, the dialects, the graffiti on the walls—all these details come from a coherent vision crafted by writers and implemented by the team. Writers also influence VFX, such as the color of magical spells or the sounds that convey a character’s mood. For instance, in Hades, the color schemes, music, and special effects for each god’s powers are consistent and add to the unique feel of the game’s Greek underworld.
Documentation
A game writer creates and maintains the game bible—a central document that keeps track of everything in the world, from character bios to world history, and all the rules that make up the universe. This documentation is essential, especially as teams grow and more people join the project. A well-maintained game bible ensures consistency and keeps everyone aligned, whether they’re newcomers or veterans.
The writer also produces the Game Design Document (GDD), which is essential for platforms like PlayStation to approve and publish your game. This document includes everything from gameplay mechanics to story beats, and it’s crucial for presenting a clear vision to publishers, investors, and platform holders. Without this detailed documentation, miscommunication can lead to inconsistencies, plot holes, and issues with lore or gameplay mechanics.
In Destiny 2, for instance, the ongoing narrative spans multiple expansions and updates, with intricate lore and numerous characters across different timelines. A game bible helps maintain consistency and continuity, especially in live-service games where content is continuously updated.
In Summary
A game writer is far more than a “dialogue person.” They’re integral to building the game’s world, story, characters, and atmosphere. With careful research, immersive world-building, engaging storylines, thoughtful quest design, and attention to every tiny detail, a game writer ensures that players feel connected and invested. And, through extensive documentation, they provide a framework for the entire team to create something cohesive and memorable.
Hiring a game writer isn’t just about adding text; it’s about adding heart, soul, and depth to your game, creating a world where players want to lose themselves. From crafting alien languages to designing tragic backstories, a game writer transforms mechanics and visuals into a story-driven experience that players will remember long after they’ve set down the controller.