How to turn a story into a game people play, not just read

Most stories have one moment that wants to be played: a chase, a choice, a heist, an escape. Build the game around that moment and keep the rest as short text. The key choice should be something the player does with their hands, not a paragraph they read.

Pick the playable moment

Read your story and look for scenes with a clear action and a clear risk. Here is how famous public-domain books break down.

Treasure Island. The playable moment is the map hunt: dig, dodge pirates, find the chest before they do.
Alice's Adventures in Wonderland. The size changes. Drink to shrink through a tiny door, eat to grow over a wall. That is a puzzle game.
Dracula. The night in the castle. Explore by day, hide by night, and do not let the count find you.
Your own story. Find the scene you would most like to be in. If it has someone chasing someone, or a choice with a cost, start there.

What to keep as text and what to make play

Keep as text: who the hero is, what they want, and the stakes. One or two short lines before play starts, and a line at the end. Players skip long text, so every line should earn its place.

Make into play: the big decision and the danger. If the hero must choose who to trust, let the player choose by acting, like opening one door and not the other. Games such as Papers, Please tell a whole story through stamping documents, which is a good model for how far a simple action can carry a plot.

Story games on Roam to learn from

Each of these tells its story through one repeated action.

Repair & Report. A dystopian repair shop: fix the phone, or report the owner.
Stamp Or Sink. A wartime cipher clerk. Decode the message, choose the stamp, live with it.
Don't Air That. One night shift in a radio booth, with callers you might regret putting on air.
Extinct Is a Lie. Route 66, 1993. The park is closed. The T-rex is not.
Uncle Is Watching. A Soviet-era stealth sim. Take your papers and do not look nervous.
Legs Not Included. A cave crawler where Otto has no legs and you have one finger.

Play it on Roam

Turn your story into a game with Roam

Write the playable moment as one sentence and Roam makes it a game on your iPhone. Use your own story or a public-domain book to stay clear of rights problems.

Try: "Treasure Island map hunt, dig for the chest on a jungle island, pirates patrol the beach, find it before sunset"

Create it with Roam See Roam

Questions people ask

Can I turn a book into a game?

Yes, if it is your own book or in the public domain, like Treasure Island or Dracula. Books still under copyright need the rights holder's permission.

How do I make a story game fun?

Let the player do the key choice instead of reading it. Keep text short and put the risk in the action.

Do I need to write a full script?

No. Start with one scene as one sentence, play it, then add scenes before and after if it works.

Keep exploring

More on Roam: All Roam games Games to play, by kind