branching story
Choose-your-path tale
A branching story is a narrative where reader or player choices determine which path the plot takes, creating multiple possible storylines and endings.
Common in interactive fiction, video games, and choose-your-own-adventure books: The game's branching story meant my decisions actually mattered.
The structure resembles a tree, with each choice point splitting into new branches.
- interactiveAllowing mutual exchange
- choose your own adventureReader-controlled branching narrative
- chooseSelect from alternatives
- pathRoute for traveling
- narrativeAccount of events
fork · decision · decision point · tree · adventure · choice · storyline · multiple · multiple endings · endings · diverge · chapter · route · gamebook · visual novel · twine · consequence · butterfly effect
- Game Bookspuzzle book, maze book
- game narrativenarrative, plot, storyline, dialogue tree, player choice
- video gamesvideo games, gameplay, Fortnite, mobile game, arcade
- interfacesGUI, CLI, API, click, mouse
- narrative techniquesflashback, nonlinear plot, fragmented narrative, flash-forward, point of view