Ludonarrative Dissonance describes conflict between game’s story and gameplay. Term coined by Clint Hocking (2007) critiquing BioShock, it became pretentious gaming discourse favorite—pointing out how Nathan Drake murders hundreds while being “likeable hero.”
Famous Examples
Games criticized:
- Uncharted: Charming hero, mass murderer
- Tomb Raider (2013): Lara’s “first kill” trauma, then kills 200+
- Red Dead 2: Arthur’s redemption arc vs. player rampages
- Last of Us 2: Revenge bad… unless gameplay demands it
Academic Gaming Discourse
Ludonarrative dissonance represented:
- Games criticism maturing
- Story vs. systems analysis
- Often overused buzzword
Counter-Arguments
Defenders said:
- It’s just a game
- Mechanical necessity
- Suspension of disbelief
- Not every game needs perfect harmony
Sources:
- Clint Hocking’s Original Essay (2007)
- Game Design Analysis
- Narrative vs. Gameplay Studies