MENTAL MODEL · M1116

Ludonarrative Dissonance

Learn & MetacognitionHigh supportCognitive Science

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Version 1.0.0 · Updated 2026-07-30

CORE DEFINITION

Refers to the conflict between the game's "mechanics" (Ludology) and its "narrative" (Narrative). For example, the story portrays the protagonist as a peace-loving pacifist who abhors violence, but the gameplay requires the player to slaughter thousands of enemies.

SCAFFOLDING EFFECT

psychology

Reduce cognitive load

Check consistency between words and actions. In corporate management, if the "values" (narrative) say we want innovation, but the "KPIs" (mechanics) punish failure, that is a typical narrative dissonance, leading to cognitive split and cynicism among employees.

anchor

Anchor fast decisions

Coined by game critic Clint Hocking, it refers to the contradiction between the values conveyed by game mechanics (ludic) and those conveyed by narrative, causing a fragmented player experience.

MINIMUM ACTION

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Practice this model in one real situation:

When designing interactive products, verify that "what the gameplay makes people do" is consistent with "what the story makes people believe"
if there is a contradiction, adjust the mechanics or narrative to make them coherent
use player feedback to identify points of dissonance.

Check to track your progress (stored locally)

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Source support: Explicit

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en.wikipedia.orghttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ludonarrative_dissonanceZH · Explicit
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