Storytelling is the foundation of modern media. Whether it be books, movies, or video games, storytelling is essential to creating any media. However, it is an uncommonly known fact that there are different types of storytelling, some examples of which are written and oral. Among the different types of storytelling, there is one type that is so discreet, that it is often overlooked: environmental storytelling.
Environmental storytelling tells a story in a different way than other major forms of storytelling. As Professor Elizabeth Goins writes in her paper “Structuring Digital Game Stories,” “Space itself can convey meaning”. Environmental storytelling tells a story through the environment of a piece of media instead of through text or dialogue. For example, in “The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild,” there is a location in the game called Fort Hateno. Outside of the fort are the ruins of several Guardian robots who had turned against their creators. The player may be confused as to the reason why there are so many Guardians in the area, but they can assume through the environmental storytelling that there was a battle there. However, the Guardians foreshadow an event in the climax of the game’s story, in which it is revealed that 100 years ago at Fort Hateno, the protagonist Link was mortally wounded while trying to defend from the Guardians. This caused him to be sent to a healing shrine, the location of the start of the game. Environmental storytelling serves a double purpose: it foreshadows an event at the climax of the game while telling the story of the world’s past.
However, environmental storytelling does not need to be related to the main story of the media. It can also be little things that show change in the world. For example, in “Uncharted 4: A Thief’s End”, two men can be seen painting a building. Later in the game, when the player returns to the location, the building has been painted and the two men are gone. The small changes to a world over time tell the story of the world give it life and personality.
Environmental storytelling tells a story through the details. Little changes in a world or strange landmarks work together, telling the story of the world and characters in ways other than words. In the end, a setting, whether it be space, a fantastical land, or some other place, serves to tell a story. It just has to be noticed.