This paper investigates what we can learn about a game’s design by analyzing retellings applying Eladhari’s framework [4]. Mystics Ablaze, a fighting game, is evaluated in its capacity of instigating retellings using a novel method including qualitative interviews for data collection and deductive thematic analysis. The results of the analysis show that the participants were engaged with the narrative layer of the game, both through retellings and other kinds of interpretations. The novel methodology is promising in its ability to evaluate retellings.

How can generative AI (GenAI) be integrated in educational practices? This paper describes an approach combining problem-based learning with the creation of Interactive Digital Narratives (IDNs) using GenAI, applied during a training school for which the concrete task was to represent Malta’s complex Neolithic history. After introducing the topic, the concept of IDN, and GenAI tools, the educational journey continued by interweaving contextual information such as site visits with iterative design steps facilitating trainees to create their own IDN projects. This approach was applied during a five-day course, resulting in four IDNs incorporating the specific perspectives of the respective teams. The paper describes the pedagogical approach as well as the different ways the trainee teams found to address the limitations and challenges of current GenAI tools.

Where do generative AI (GenAI) tools stand in 2025 when it comes to the design of Interactive Digital Narratives (IDNs)? In 2024, we introduced a first effort in benchmarking GenAI tools for IDN design [14]. This paper updates the findings for the current generation of previously evaluated tools (ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, Copilot), and also adds several open source entries such as DeepSeek, Llama, Mistral, and Qwen. We introduce two key additions to the GenAI4IDN benchmarking framework: methods to benchmark iterative prompting and the effects of contextualized prompting. Furthermore, we introduce and apply a method for AI-assisted evaluation, facilitating rapid evaluation of large amounts of IDN design artifacts with a level of quality similar to human raters.

Narrative has been central to psychoanalysis from its inception. What has been explored less is the relationship between psychotherapy and interactive narrative. In particular, narrative therapy is a wellestablished practice in psychotherapy which shares central concerns with interactive narrative research and practice. In this paper, we explore the foundational role of narrative in psychotherapy and consider its interactive aspect. Then, we identify the overlap between interactive narratives and narrative therapy, and identify interactive narrative works which use this potential for therapeutic purposes. We also describe a concrete implementation, the board game Mind Stories, and introduce the concept of interactive narrative therapy.

In this paper, we discuss how theories can fail us in analysis and design of interactive digital narrative (IDN) works. We demonstrate a range of theoretical failures using the milestone IDN work Façade. To this end, we demonstrate the effect of different theoretical lenses, treating Façade as an interactive drama, as a game, as a work of hypertext fiction, and as general IDN work. We identify different types of theory failures with regards to analysis, creation and audience reception: miscatogorization, blind transfer, bogus theory, semantic creep, analytical blur, out of date, lack of problematization, fallacy of universality, analysis-productive mistakes, inappropriate conventions, out of context, over-pragmatization, and setting the wrong expectations for audiences. Finally we propose a way to prevent theoretical failures and call for more work in this respective area.

What happens when scholars approach novel phenomena such as Interactive Digital Narrative (IDN)? How can we be certain that theoretical frameworks, analytical approaches, and vocabulary are adequate,which means that they are able to fully describe the specific characteristics of the novel phenomena? The same goes for approaches in the practice - how can we be sure that the chosen design methods enable the use of the full expressive potential of a novel phenomena? Furthermore, we ask how we can critique and improve categories and approaches? We reflect on how theory and analytical approaches have been produced so far, identify issues with the current practice, consider alternatives and propose a number of measures to improve the situation. Amongst them are increased efforts on the meta-level in terms of theoretical development and reflective works which concern themselves with the further development of the field, iterative approaches towards theory and method, a more critical approach in education, multi-method analysis, and dynamic representations.

In this overview paper, we consider interactive digital narratives (IDN) as a means to represent and enable understanding of complex topics both at the public level (e.g. global warming, the COVID-19 pandemic, migration, or e-mobility) and at the personal level (trauma and other mental health issues, interpersonal relationships). We discuss scholarly approaches to complexity, limitations of traditional media to represent complex issues, and describe the potential of IDN in this regard and what aspects need further work in research and beyond, which serve as the starting point for the EU COST action INDCOR.

Tabletop roleplaying games (TTRPGs) and procedural content generators can both be understood as systems of rules for producing content. In this paper, we argue that TTRPG design can usefully be viewed as procedural content generator design. We present several case studies linking key concepts from PCG research-including possibility spaces, expressive range analysis, and generative pipelines-to key concepts in TTRPG design. We then discuss the implications of these relationships and suggest directions for future work uniting research in TTRPGs and PCG.

In this paper, we react to developments that frame research in interactive digital narrative (IDN) as a field of study and potential future academic discipline. We take stock of the current situation, identify issues with perception and point out achievements. On that basis we identify five critical challenges, areas in need of attention in order to move the research field forward. In particular we discuss the dependency on legacy analytical frameworks (Groundhog Day), the lack of a shared vocabulary (Babylonian Confusion), the missing institutional memory of the field (Amnesia), the absence of established benchmarks (No Yardstick) and the overproduction of uncoordinated and quickly abandoned tools (Sisyphus). For each challenge area, we propose ways to address these challenges and enable increased collaboration in the field. Our paper has the aim to both provide orientation for newcomers to the field of IDN and to offer a basis for a discussion of future shared work.

This paper presents a case study of a Bachelor level game research methods course (15 ECTS). The course covers observations, interviews, and introduction to statistical analysis. The course set-up follows \textit{constructive alignment} design where the aim is that the learning goals, learning tasks, and evaluation are aligned. During the course, students first learn research design and later design their research based on a set of examples and conduct data gathering and analysis. The evaluation of the pedagogical approach used is based on students' learning diaries where the focus is the methods and applying methods. Qualitative evaluation indicates that students can better describe their research designs and analyses.