Live online · 7 weeks · 28 January – 11 March 2027
Writing for Mobile Games:For Screenwriters and Storytellers
Turn screenwriting skills into stories players can shape.
Applying is free — payment only after acceptance.
Course fees & application deadlines
Early Bird
€850
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Standard
€920
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Final Rate
€990
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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
An online professional course for screenwriters and storytellers who want to learn narrative design through the world’s most accessible gaming format: mobile games. The course introduces the principles and practice of narrative design through a practical gateway into interactive storytelling.
Across approximately 16 hours of live online teaching, learn how narrative designers think, how story works alongside game mechanics and player behaviour, and how to translate existing writing skills into a medium built around participation rather than passive viewing.
Live teaching, industry case studies, practical assignments and portfolio development lead to several pieces of narrative design work. The course concludes with feedback and portfolio review. No game development or technical background is required.
- Duration
- 7 weeks · 28 January – 11 March 2027
- Schedule
- Thursdays, 16:00–18:30 Berlin / CET. Approximately 16 hours of live online teaching.
Session dates · 2027
Join from your time zone
- 16:00–18:30 Berlin / CET
- 10:00–12:30 New York / EST
- 07:00–09:30 Los Angeles / PST
- 20:30–23:00 Mumbai / IST
- 00:00–02:30 Tokyo / JST (next day)
Level: Beginner-intermediate · Approximately 16 hours of live teaching
What you’ll create
- A player persona
- A First-Time User Experience narrative sequence
- Gameplay-loop analysis and a core loop
- Story concepts built around an existing game mechanic
- Original character profiles and game dialogue
- An environmental storytelling sequence
- Practice pitching and supporting narrative ideas
What you'll cover
- 01
Narrative Design & Systemic Storytelling
Screenwriting versus game writing and narrative design; linear, interactive and systemic storytelling; writing stories that survive interruption and reach players across cultures and contexts.
- 02
Understanding the Player
Mobile audiences, motivations and behaviour; retention, engagement and drop-off; story beats, cutscenes and the First-Time User Experience (FTUE).
- 03
Game Design Fundamentals for Writers
Core loops, progression, rewards, feedback and mechanics. Learn to play analytically and communicate with game designers.
- 04
Writing for Games
Character voice, backstory, motivation, emotional dynamics and engaging mobile-game dialogue, with tonal consistency within interactive-product constraints.
- 05
Environmental & Visual Storytelling
Story through space, visual clues, discovery and progression, using Angry Birds Journey and Merge Mansion as case studies.
- 06
Build Your Narrative Design Portfolio
Choose and present scripts, dialogue and environmental storytelling with screenshots, walkthroughs and clear explanations of your thinking.
- 07
Feedback & Portfolio Review
Shape work developed during the course into portfolio-ready narrative design material.
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, film and television writers and professional storytellers
- →Writers moving between film, television and games
- →Creative professionals exploring interactive formats
- →Applicants considering narrative design or game-writing roles
- →Anyone working in the creative industries who wants to start a narrative design portfolio
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: Dark Worlds: From Screenwriter to Video Game Writer