WARNING: Get ready to have your mind blown by some super-duper tips!
What's the one thing missing from a lot of great Gimkit games? Lore, that's what! Any game is made better by a little lore or exposition. Maybe some dialogue cut-scenes, which add depth to gameplay!
In this guide, I'll teach you how to write good lore for your game in just 3 easy steps! If you don't want to read this whole post, just read the summary.
Step 1: Background
Okay, let's get started! The most important thing about a game's lore is what it's about. For example, lets reference Ascent of Mount Snowy, one of the best platformers ever made!
In Ascent of Mount Snowy, they have lore every few levels in popup's if you know where to look.
The lore is all based on the theme of Mount Snowy being cold.
To write lore that makes sense, just think about what you're game's about. Then write about that. Here are two quotes from AoMS:
"Welcome to Mt. Snowy! This is one of the tallest mountains in Gimkit! While climbing, make sure to look out for dragons, coins, and caves. Have fun!"
"You watch the platforms shimmer in and out of existence. So soon, and the climb becoming more and more difficult... What's next?"
As you can see, the creators of AoMS made lore-filled messages throughout the game. They mention mysterious things like the dragons that live on the mountain and the vanishing platforms that surround it.
So, let's say that your game is a cave-exploring game. In this scenario, a lore-message you might write would be something that describes the cave and hints at something ahead. Something like this:
"As you head deeper into the depths of the earth, you keep an eye out for whatever gold or diamonds you can find. For if you can find diamonds and get back to the surface, you'll be rich forever!"
Ascent of Mount Snowy 🏔️
Step 2: Voice
When giving voice to good lore, you must describe how it's being read. Is it a note on the wall, a message from the narrator, or your Gim's thoughts written out?
Who is your message from - you (the narrator), or that of another Gim? Here are some examples of lore by type:
Narration
"You're an explorer famous for exploring the depths of the multiverse. You've decided that for your next quest, you're going to find your way into the space between universes, known as the Void Beyond..."
Thoughts
"OMG, why is that platform so far away? Can I even make that jump? I've gotta try!"
Step 3: Write It
The final step is to just write it. Try your best to write it and I'm sure whatever you make will turn out great!
Summary
Here are the three steps to writing good Gimkit lore:
Determine what your game's about and make the lore about that.
Determine what type it is: a note being read, a narrator's message, or your character's own thoughts.
Write the lore. Just try your best to write it as well as you can.
I hope this guide can be of some help to you in making your next game. Check back soon for our next post! It's going to be a game review!
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