5 Narrative Video Games from LudoNarraCon 2021

LudoNarraCon, an online video game festival focused on narrative games, was held from April 23 to 26, 2021, on Steam. Organized by publisher Fellow Traveller, the event featured conferences, roundtables, and playable demos. Among the most promising titles were Beacon Pines (Hiding Spot), She Dreams Elsewhere (Studio Zevere), Svoboda 1945: Liberation (Charles Games), The Longest Road on Earth (Brainwash Gang, TLR Games, Raw Fury), and Wayward Strand (Ghost Pattern). Beacon Pines follows Luka, a deer in an anthropomorphic animal town, using word-based choices to shape the story. She Dreams Elsewhere is a JRPG-inspired game exploring the dreams of protagonist Thalia with a minimalist black-and-white pixel art style. Svoboda 1945: Liberation is an interactive documentary about post-WWII Czechoslovakia, blending fiction with real events. The Longest Road on Earth combines video game and music album, telling wordless stories through 24 original songs. Wayward Strand allows players to explore a hospital on an airship over three days, with characters following independent routines. Release dates range from May 2021 to 2022.