Interactivity and Meta-Engagement in Digital Mystery Narratives

This Element provides an in-depth analysis of digital mystery game narratives through the lens of game studies approaches, game design principles, and literary theory. Beginning with an overview of important game studies concepts, the Element argues that the narrative effects of video games cannot be fully understood without an understanding of these principles. Next, the Element incorporates these ideas into a detailed analysis of digital mystery stories, illustrating how game design elements augment and enhance narrative impact. Finally, the Element applies these principles to several print texts, illustrating how game studies principles help to articulate interactive strategies. Ultimately, this Element argues that incorporating digital mystery narratives into the field of crime studies goes beyond simply broadening the canon, but rather that an understanding of game studies principles has the potential to augment discussions of interactivity and reader participation in all crime narratives, regardless of media form.