The influence of game narrative design on player workload and emotional experience
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Abstract
Most commercial games rely on speed-based challenges to determine difficulty, yet narrative techniques can also create tension and engagement. This study examined how different design elements in a horror-inspired fire safety simulation game influence players’ perceived workload and emotional response. Sixty-three participants (aged 18–35) played through five counterbalanced conditions and NASA TLX. Results revealed significant differences across all workload dimensions. Time pressure increased temporal demand and frustration, while narrative foreshadowing elevated mental demand, emotional intensity, and perceived success. Jump scares and ambient horror also intensified emotional responses but had less effect on performance. Overall, cognitive and emotional demands rose with task difficulty, whereas performance peaked when challenge and engagement were balanced. Correlation analysis further showed strong links between emotional intensity, mental demand, and frustration, emphasizing the intertwined nature of cognition and emotion during gameplay. The findings highlight that narrative foreshadow can sustain player engagement without excessive stress, suggesting implications for serious game design and educational simulations.
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