How do players perceive narrative in anime-style games?

Sammanfattning

In recent years, anime-style games have developed rapidly, but in-depth research on how players perceive narrative in this genre remains lacking. This study explores how players perceive narrative in anime-style games. The research employed a mixed approach, combining questionnaires (N=105), open-ended questions (N=54), and semi-structured interviews (N=9). The results show that narrative is considered the most important element, even surpassing gameplay and art. Players view narrative as the “soul” of the genre, driving emotional investment, retention, and payment. However, players actively skip low-quality or repetitive narrative, suggesting a selective engagement pattern. Anime art style is inseparable from the narrative experience. The study concludes that narrative is a core dimension in evaluating anime-style games, but its influence depends on the quality and presentation of the narrative.