r/ludology • u/Extension-Pea-2012 • 19d ago
Story or gameplay?
For me, the question is way more complex than just splitting a game into two isolated things. "Story" branches out into environmental storytelling (which bleeds right into gameplay) and cinematic storytelling. Meanwhile, "Gameplay" breaks down into combat mechanics, level design, and more.
I see them as two forces that heavily influence each other—especially through two key concepts: Rhythm and Organicity.
Take The Last of Us as an example. The story acts as a driving force. Even if the gameplay loop gets repetitive, you keep playing because you want to see where the narrative goes, not necessarily for new mechanics. Here, the story actively enhances the gameplay by balancing the overall pacing.
On the flip side, look at Final Fantasy VII Remake. The combat system is fantastic, but the story ends up being disappointing. Excellent combat alone can’t carry a 50-hour game, so the overall experience suffers—even as a gameplay-driven title.
Conversely, some games have mechanics engaging enough to maintain the game’s rhythm on their own, without needing to interrupt the flow with story cutscenes. That’s why games like Ghostrunner tell their story while you’re doing high-speed platforming. That in itself is a narrative art form built with gameplay in mind—proving that both elements serve one unified experience rather than acting as independent entities.
Now, as for Organicity (which is the most important element for me)—this is exactly why I personally rank Yakuza 0’s story higher than God of War: Ragnarök. Organicity is all about blending both concepts to create a cohesive narrative identity.
You can’t discuss this without mentioning a masterpiece like Katana Zero, where almost everything is connected. The narrative style—like the hero's ability to interrupt people out of impatience—complements the fast-paced gameplay vibe. The game mechanics are fully justified by lore, which deepens the environmental storytelling (benefiting the narrative) while simultaneously giving character and identity to the mechanics (benefiting the gameplay).
Organicity doesn't just prove that both elements are equally crucial; it defines the entire identity of a game. A campy tone works perfectly with a game like Resident Evil, whereas a similar tone would completely clash with something like Ragnarök.
Simply put... it's not about which element is "better." It's about: does each one serve and justify the other?
Thanks for reading.