Procedural storytelling—narrative generated dynamically by systems rather than written linearly—is one of the most ambitious goals in game design. But can it ever truly replace handcrafted plots?

Games like Dwarf Fortress, RimWorld, and Crusader Kings III don’t follow traditional story arcs. Instead, they generate emergent narratives: a peasant rises to power, a lover betrays a dynasty, a colony descends into chaos after a squirrel attack. These stories aren’t scripted, but they feel authentic because they emerge from interlocking systems.

Advantages of procedural storytelling:

• Replayability: each playthrough is unique
• Player agency: choices directly shape outcomes
• Scale and complexity: systems can produce thousands of story permutations

However, limitations remain:

• Lack of emotional arc: procedural events often lack pacing or buildup
• Inconsistent tone: random outcomes can break immersion or logic
• Character depth: AI-driven stories rarely match hand-written dialogue or nuance

Narrative-focused games like Hades and Shadow of Mordor offer hybrids: procedural frameworks enriched by scripted emotional beats. The Nemesis System in Mordor, for example, creates personal rivalries through emergent encounters, but uses voiced lines and animations to enhance meaning.

While procedural storytelling is unlikely to replace handcrafted plots entirely, it complements them by offering personalized, reactive experiences. The future may lie in hybrid models where systems support writers—not replace them.