HFL Booster · Live online · 2 sessions · 2 × 2.5 hours
Game Design Fundamentals &Adaptive Storytelling
Understand how games work — and how story adapts to them.
Applying is free — payment only after acceptance.
Course fees & application deadlines
Early Bird
€149
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Standard
€199
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Final Rate
€249
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The fee depends on when you apply, not when you pay. Payment follows acceptance. Places are limited; applications may close earlier if the cohort fills. Instalment arrangements can be discussed after acceptance.
About the course
You don’t need a background in game development to understand how games work. But if you want to create stories for games, understanding what makes them engaging is a great place to start.
This focused booster course introduces the fundamentals of game design and explores how narrative can be built around gameplay mechanics, adapted to changing systems, and developed into flexible storytelling frameworks.
You’ll learn how core gameplay loops, progression, rewards and feedback influence player motivation, and how to use that understanding to make stronger narrative decisions.
We’ll also explore how to separate the what of a story from how it’s delivered through gameplay — from adapting narrative when a game’s core mechanic shifts to creating fresh stories around recurring mechanics, and deconstructing a game’s core loop. You’ll learn to design narrative that can evolve alongside the game.
The course is lecture-led with short online exercises between the two sessions. There is no portfolio building and no long homework, and the group is capped at 25–30 participants.
- Duration
- 2 sessions · 2 × 2.5 hours
- Schedule
- Two sessions of 2.5 hours each. Choose Cohort A on Saturdays 20 & 27 March 2027, 10:00–12:30 Berlin / CET, or Cohort B on Tuesdays 13 & 20 April 2027, 16:00–18:30 Berlin / CET.
Choose your cohort
Cohort A · Saturdays 20 & 27 March 2027
10:00–12:30 Berlin / CET
Cohort B · Tuesdays 13 & 20 April 2027
16:00–18:30 Berlin / CET
Level: Beginner-friendly · Approximately 5 hours of live teaching · Up to 25–30 participants
What you’ll learn
- Understanding core gameplay loops, progression, rewards and feedback
- How game mechanics shape player motivation and emotional experience
- How narrative and mechanics influence each other
- Building stories around different game mechanics
- Designing flexible narrative frameworks that can adapt to changes in gameplay
- Creating fresh stories, characters and visual themes around recurring gameplay systems
- Communicating narrative decisions effectively with game designers
- Playing and analysing games critically across genres
What you'll cover
- 01
Session 1 — Game design fundamentals
Core gameplay loops, progression, rewards and feedback. How game mechanics shape player motivation and emotional experience, and what makes a game engaging.
- 02
Session 2 — Adaptive storytelling
Separating the what of a story from how it is delivered through gameplay. Building narrative around different mechanics, adapting when a core mechanic shifts, and designing flexible narrative frameworks.
- 03
Between sessions — Short online exercises
Brief practical exercises let you apply the ideas between the two sessions. No portfolio building and no heavy homework.
Who it's for
Anyone, anywhere in the world working in the creative industries is welcome to apply. Each course has its own focus and prerequisites, and we welcome perspectives from across industries.
- →Screenwriters and storytellers curious about how games work
- →Writers moving into games and interactive narrative
- →Creative professionals who work alongside game designers
- →Anyone in the creative industries who wants to understand gameplay mechanics
- →No game-development, coding or technical background required
Your tutor
Rachel Prianka Darshan
Narrative Designer & Writer
Rachel is a narrative designer and writer working across games, with experience in mobile storytelling, character-driven writing and narrative systems. She has worked on FarmVille 2 and most recently Merge Mansion, a globally successful live game with more than 65 million downloads. Her teaching bridges traditional storytelling and interactive narrative design, connecting story with player experience, progression, mechanics and live operations.
- ✦Game narrative on FarmVille 2
- ✦Narrative work on Merge Mansion
- ✦Mobile storytelling, character-driven writing & narrative systems
Before you apply
Frequently asked questions
In their words
From past HFL programmes
“The tools we learned — especially the narrative loop and motor — were absolutely great. The course inspired me, but also gave me very concrete next steps for my current projects.”
“Meeting talented professionals from different creative fields, learning from a tutor with a stellar portfolio, and being guided by course organisers with a strong international perspective made the course really valuable.”
“The programme was absolutely worthwhile. We had a great collaboration with Character House, learned a lot about transmedia, and came away discussing how we could continue working together in the future.”
Ready to apply?
Applications are free. If you're accepted, you'll receive a payment link to secure your place.
Apply nowAlso running: Everyday Escapes: Writing for Mobile Games