Building Curiosity

Sparking Curiosity-Driven Exploration Through Narrative in 'Outer Wilds'

Get players invested first

Easier for players to get invested when understanding the story is a requirement for advancing

Make players explore intentionally

Always want players to be curious enough to have a question and be exploring intentionally

One clue points to another

build a web of curiosity

E.g. Ship log in Outer Wilds

Test if players can be motivated by curiosity alone

Players can't be curious about something specific if they're curious about everything

Make interest points obvious enough

Don't want players exploring every nook and cranny just in case there's a secret