Helping studios turn mechanics and story into one playable experience.

I’m a Narrative Systems Designer with 16+ years in the industry, from indie to AAA. I help studios embed their story directly into gameplay systems so narrative isn’t just written, it’s played.

Where Can I Help?

Many teams struggle with narrative not because of writing quality, but because of misalignment with systems, mechanics and production realities. From my experience I know how to bridge the gap between game design and story, allowing the narrative to work across systems and core mechanics so players feel the story through gameplay, not just exposition.

How Can I Help?

I offer the following services:

  • Narrative-Gameplay Audit: Rapid review of narrative systems with actionable recommendations.

  • Narrative Systems Consultancy: Strategic support working with your existing design and/or story.

  • Embedded Narrative Design: Hands-on collaboration with the team to build narrative mechanics.

  • Prototype Consultancy: Early advice and direction for laying the foundation of your narrative systems.

  • Workshops & Training: Team workshops focused on systemic narrative and cross-discipline storytelling.

Learn More

Why Me?

With a background in narrative, game and systems design I bring a gameplay-first approach to narrative design, where player agency is key. I understand the complexities of storytelling, the nuance of player experience and the harsh realities of production deadlines and can help your team navigate all three in a way that gives you the best playable story possible.

Over the years I have worked on:

  • AAA open-worlds: Star Wars Outlaws, Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora

  • Multiple indie games: Survival-Crafting, JRPG, Mobile, Adventure

  • Narrative Design Tools: Snowdrop Engine’s GENIE

  • Lectures, workshops, industry talks: TGA, GameDev Station, Dev.Play

My Credits

Let’s Talk!

If you are building a game where story and systems need to work together I’d love to help.

Get in touch to discuss your project.

  • Navid Kahvari, Creative Director, Ubisoft Toronto.

    “Alice is quite simply one of the best systems designers I’ve had the pleasure to work with. She not only brings a wealth of experience to her role, but she also brings a collaborative spirit, one where she is always receptive to the ideas of others while also maintaining the integrity of the features in her purview. She is also simply passionate about games, and has a depth of knowledge of the latest that is happening in this industry, knowledge she can deploy at any moment. I would work with Alice again in a heartbeat.”

  • Greg Lidstone, Head of Animation, Larian Studios

    “Alice Rendell is communicative, knowledgeable, and vastly creative. She possesses both a keen artistic eye and narrative sensibility which has made her an outstanding contributor to our team. Alice has excellent attention to detail without losing sight of the big picture. She advocates passionately for the player and is a highly gifted problem solver. She is simply one of the finest narrative designers with whom I’ve had the pleasure of working.”

  • Simona Tassinari, Lead Tools Programmer, Massive Entertainment

    “Alice's ability to dissect a design problem with a technical eye, makes it really easy and efficient to discuss technical needs and decide if a solution is fit for purpose. I'm a programmer and it's sometimes difficult to translate design needs into features, but this has never been a problem when working with Alice.

    Alice is great at showing the bigger picture and goals of a design, while delving deep into the details and this is incredibly valuable to our team. Alice is a fantastic colleague and an asset to any team.”

  • Giles Armstrong, Expert Writer, Freelance

    “Alice is the kind of smart, astute and giving collaborator you want on your project. She seeks out opportunities to support and improve every aspect of a game she works on, and is always able to frame her suggestions and ideas in that positive and reasonable manner that you want from your colleagues, and that you need from them when under the pressure of tight deadlines.

    As a narrative designer and a game designer, Alice is exceptional, and it’s hard to estimate just how much she helped me, as the writer, and the whole team to enrich THE DESCENDANT’s ability to blend its gameplay and storytelling.”