# Ludonarrative dissonance

- Term: Digital term
- Date: 2007
- Canonical: https://www.lanternhall.org/lexicon/ludonarrative-dissonance/

> A conflict between what a game's story says and what its gameplay makes the player do, such as a gentle hero who must kill hundreds of enemies. The term is a portmanteau of ludology and narrative.

A conflict between what a game's story says and what its gameplay makes the player do, such as a gentle hero who must kill hundreds of enemies. The term is a portmanteau of ludology and narrative.

**Origin:** Coined by designer Clint Hocking in a 2007 blog post about BioShock.

## Quick answers

**What does "Ludonarrative dissonance" mean?**
A conflict between what a game's story says and what its gameplay makes the player do, such as a gentle hero who must kill hundreds of enemies. The term is a portmanteau of ludology and narrative.

**Where does the term "Ludonarrative dissonance" come from?**
Coined by designer Clint Hocking in a 2007 blog post about BioShock.

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From The Lantern Hall (https://www.lanternhall.org/), a museum of fantasy literature and roleplaying games.