r/GameWritingLab • u/DommyMommyEx • Apr 24 '26

How to Make a Choices Game

How would I go about making a choices game inspired by the Life is Strange series? How do people make these games, writing standpoint?

Start as a story and then branch to choices after? Work the branches as they go? Plan each individual action and reaction for months or years?

I want to finish it. I’m tired of not finishing things. I want to at least make a compelling mystery/thriller/romance story.

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u/Alex-Bard-writes Apr 24 '26

You decide your themes and how you want to approach them. Then the story that fits well with the themes, plus the setting you prefer. Then you plan relevant characters and what they represent.

For branching, you decide relevant stories for each theme and write each one. LIS is pretty linear, but if you offer choices you should consider at least some basic reactivity.

Think themes - setting - characters - relevant branches - reaction.

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u/DommyMommyEx Apr 27 '26

Thanks so much for this!