Lost in Translation: The Challenges of Adapting Video Game Narratives into Novels

Converting video games into novels presents unique challenges, primarily due to the fundamental differences between the two mediums. Video games are interactive, engaging, and customizable, offering players a dynamic and immersive experience. In contrast, novels follow a fixed narrative path, which can lack the engagement and flexibility appreciated by video game enthusiasts. This study aims to explore the challenges and limitations involved in adapting video games into novels, with a focus on the impact of losing interactivity and player agency during the adaptation process. Drawing on literary and game studies, the research examines the structural differences between video games and novels, including interactivity, pacing, and the balance between action and storytelling. The study finds that the loss of interactivity is the most significant barrier in adaptation, along with pacing difficulties and visual translation. Video games allow players to set their own pace and choose events, while novels impose a predetermined narrative and pacing. This shift can make the novel appear less engaging and dynamic to those accustomed to the interactive nature of video games. The paper finally concludes that adapting video games into novels requires addressing the tension between interactivity and fixed narrative structure. Balancing the dynamic action of games with the linear storytelling of novels is critical to maintaining engagement and capturing the essence of the original medium.