Storyteller

*Storyteller*, the innovative puzzle game from Argentinian developer Daniel Benmergui, published by Annapurna Interactive, presents players with a charming and distinctive premise: the power to craft narratives. Released on March 23, 2023, for Microsoft Windows and Nintendo Switch, and later on September 26, 2023, for iOS and Android via Netflix, the game invites players into a whimsical storybook world where they are the authors of tales involving love, betrayal, monsters, and more. Through a simple drag-and-drop interface, players manipulate characters and scenes within comic-book-style panels to construct a narrative that aligns with a given title. The game's journey to release was a long and arduous one, spanning approximately 15 years, a testament to the developer's perseverance and the unique vision that ultimately captivated players and critics alike, albeit with some reservations about its length and difficulty. The core gameplay of *Storyteller* is elegantly simple yet intellectually engaging. Each level presents a blank storybook page with a title, such as "Eve Dies Heartbroken" or "The Queen Marries A Dragon," and a selection of characters and settings. Players populate a series of panels to create a coherent and logical sequence of events that fulfills the narrative prompt. The game's engine dynamically interprets the player's choices; characters react to each other and their surroundings based on established archetypes and the context provided in preceding panels. For instance, a character who dies in one panel will appear as a ghost in subsequent ones, and a spurned lover might be motivated to seek revenge. This reactive system encourages experimentation and allows for multiple solutions to many puzzles, fostering a sense of creative freedom within the game's logical framework. The charming, minimalist art style, reminiscent of classic children's book illustrations, and the subtle animations and sound effects further enhance the experience, providing visual cues and emotional context to the unfolding stories. The development of *Storyteller* is a story in itself, marked by periods of intense creativity, frustrating setbacks, and ultimate triumph. Daniel Benmergui began working on the game as early as 2009, with an early prototype winning the Independent Games Festival's Nuovo award for innovation in 2012. However, the project entered a period of development hell, with Benmergui abandoning it in 2015 after facing personal and financial difficulties. He has spoken openly about his struggles with insecurity and the immense pressure of creating a game with no direct precedent. After working on smaller, less ambitious projects to hone his skills, he returned to *Storyteller* with a renewed sense of confidence and a clearer vision. This journey from a solo project to a collaboration with artist Jeremias Babini and composer Zypce, and finally to a partnership with publisher Annapurna Interactive, known for its portfolio of unique and artistic games, was instrumental in shaping the final product. Annapurna's involvement provided the support needed to bring the long-gestating project to a wider audience. Benmergui's inspiration for the game stemmed from a childhood desire to alter the course of stories in picture books, to explore the "what ifs" and create new narratives from existing illustrations. Upon its release, *Storyteller* was met with a generally positive reception. Critics and players alike lauded its originality, charm, and accessible gameplay. The game's whimsical and often humorous emergent narratives were a frequent point of praise, with many enjoying the playful experimentation of combining characters and scenes to see what chaotic or comical situations would arise. The game's ability to distill complex narrative tropes from folklore, fairy tales, and classic literature into a simple, interactive format was also recognized as a significant achievement. However, a recurring criticism leveled against *Storyteller* is its brevity and lack of challenge. Many players found that they could complete the game in just a few hours, and that the puzzles, particularly in the early stages, were too simplistic. Some critics felt that the game's full potential for complex and branching narratives was not fully realized, leaving them wanting more. Despite these critiques, the overall consensus was that *Storyteller* offers a delightful and memorable experience that is well worth the short time it takes to play. The game's open-ended nature and the potential for future content, as hinted at by the developer, have also left many hopeful for an expanded universe of interactive storytelling.