ludonarrative dissonance

noun

The perceived conflict between a game's ludic and narrative elements; a situation in which the gameplay of a video game mismatches or clashes with its story.

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Meanings

nounludonarrative dissonance (usually uncountable, plural ludonarrative dissonances)

plural ludonarrative dissonances

  1. uncountableusuallyvideo gamesThe perceived conflict between a game's ludic and narrative elements; a situation in which the gameplay of a video game mismatches or clashes with its story.

Origin

Coined by Canadian video game designer and director Clint Hocking in 2007.

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Cite this entry
APA

ludonarrative dissonance. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/ludonarrative%20dissonance

MLA

“ludonarrative dissonance.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/ludonarrative%20dissonance. Accessed November 4, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “ludonarrative dissonance,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/ludonarrative%20dissonance.

Source: ludonarrative dissonance on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.