Why do Games Need Ambient Dialogue?

Last week, I spoke about the importance of NPCs in games. Today, I wish to build upon that article by talking about Ambient Dialogue.

Ambient Dialogue often exists outside of the premise of NPCs in the game of course, but NPCs characters are commonly utilised as conduits to deliver such dialogues that it is hard to mention one without the other. Today, I wish to go through what Ambient Dialogue is, and how it adds to games as a worldbuilding medium.

What is Ambient Dialogue?

Ambient Dialogue refers to the conversations and exchanges that occur within a game’s environment, beyond the context of direct player interaction. In The Game Narrative Toolbox, ambient dialogue can be that voiceover you hear on a radio headset or characters talking as the player passes in the street, and can range from single grunts to full banter conversations.

These types of dialogue are meant to add background atmosphere and realism to the game world, making it feel more alive and populated. That is why we often associate NPCs with ambient dialogue, they serve similar functions. But how do these dialogues present the game world to its audience through words and sentences?

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