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About the GDC's Game Narrative Review program: Every year, leading game design programs at universities across the country integrate the GDC's Game Narrative Review competition into their academic curricula. Each participating student conducts a detailed structured analysis of the narrative elements of a game title of their choice. The resulting papers are submitted to the GDC writing board for review, and the submitters with the most promising entries are then invited to create a poster as a visual synopsis of their review. Successful poster submissions are declared winners and exhibited at the GDC.

Winning entries are archived on this page, organized by year. Click the "Poster" links to see the winning poster submissions and the "Paper" links to read the winning written analyses.

2015


Platinum Winners

School Student Game Title Poster Paper
Dakota State UniversityTrent SteenMetal Gear View View
Digipen Institute of TechnologyAlexandra LucasDragon Age: Origins View View
Southern Methodist UniversityJorge MontolioBraid View View

Gold Winners

School Student Game Title Poster Paper
American UniversityKimberly HimmerCall of Cthulhu: The Wasted Land View View
Cole Wrampelmeier Spec Ops: The Line View View
Dakota State UniversityMostafa HaqueShadow of Mordor View View
Sean DailyMGS4 View View
Digipen Institute of TechnologyChase RaymentBastion View View
Jonathan Butt & Hsi-Hung ShihWalking Dead Season 2 View View
Drexel UniversityTom TraheyMetro: Last Light View View
Evan FreedChild of Light View View
Sheridan CollegeNuha AlkadiBeyond: Two Souls View View
The SMU GuildhallBrian PerryPsychonauts View View
Alex ShiltsGone Home View View
Katie WoodPaper Mario View View
University of Southern CaliforniaBenjamin SkaggsPapers, Please View View
Vikingur OskarssonGeorge Mason UniversityHotline Miami View View
Worcester Polytechnic InstituteYingying ChenThe Last of Us View View

2014


Platinum Winners

School Student Game Title Poster Paper
CMUJohn BaxaDarkstalkers 3: Vampire Savior View
Dakota State UniversityMostafa HaqueSoul Reaver 2 View View
NYUPierre DepazXCOM: Enemy Unknown View View

Gold Winners

School Student Game Title Poster Paper
Becker CollegeScott TongueBeyond: Two Souls View View
Dakota State UniversitySean DailyThe Stanley Parable View View
Andrew KoernerThe World Ends with You View View
Zachary TruesdellDragon Age: Origins View View
Mariah BeemDragon Age: Origins View View
DigiPenBrenda ChallenderLeague of Legends View View
Nicole MaioranoOne and One Story View View
John DouseauLeague of Legends
NYULarry ShenShin Megami Tensei: Persona 4 View View
Shoshana KessockTomb Raider View View
Benjamin SpaldingCivilization V View View
RITJohn BowmanMonaco: What's Yours Is Mine View View
Ian SwitajShin Megami Tensei: Persona 4 View View
Southern Methodist UniversityCurtis RochelleDishonored View View
Jaclyn HuchelDreamfall: The Longest Journey View View
Xavier StrongBully View View
Jordan RollerLegend of Dragoon View
Drew HammelPsychonauts View View

2013


Platinum Winners

School Student Game Title Poster Paper
DrexelGlenn WintersJourney View View
MarymountWalter BottlickAlice madness Returns View View
Rochester Institute of TechnologyDouglas LynnMetroid Prime View View

Gold Winners

School Student Game Title Poster Paper
CMUChristian CashmanFallout: New Vegas View View
DigipenGeorge BodenEarthBound View View
Spencer CrowellMass Effect 3 View View
Johnathan GrogoireLegend of Zelda: Majoras Mask View View
Andy HillBioshock View View
Sin Yee HoweDipict 1 View View
Aaron McDanielMass Effect 3 View
Cheng Ding XiangThreads of Fate ( US title ), Dewprism (Japan title) View View
DrexelKenneth ChenThe Binding of Isaac View View
Dustin OtwellLittle Inferno View View
EmersonPhilip BinderThe Cave View View
PUC-RioArthur ProtasioWay of Samurai 3 View View
RITAaron RussellBarkley, Shut Up and Jam: Gaiden, Chapter 1 of the Hoopz Barkley SaGa View View
Evan MillerFinal Fantacy XIII View View
Southern Methodist UniversityJose Abalos LiraDys4ia View View

2012


Platinum Winners

School Student Game Title Poster Paper
Digipen Khalil MoutrieEversion View View
Southern Methodist UniversitySteven ChinPortal 2 View View
University of TexasMichael GabaldonGhost Trick: Phantom Detective View View

Gold Winners

School Student Game Title Poster Paper
DigipenSamuel DasslerDragon Quest V View View
Ryan CassellPenumbra: Black Plague View View
Massachusetts Institute of TechnologyDavid BocekHalf-Life 2 View View
Southern Methodist UniversityDustin DavisThief: The Dark Project View View
Campbell CrapseyShogun 2 View View
Chris ParthemosDark Cloud View View
Charles EgenbacherShadow of the Colossus View View
SUNY StonybrookMax XimenezDeus Ex: Human Revolution View View
University of Southern CaliforniaJames IliffHalf-Life View

2011


Platinum Winners

School Student Game Title Poster Paper
Northern Kentucky UniversityPatric DelaneyGrim Fandango View View
Southern Methodist UniversityDavid SavageRed Dead Redemption View View

Gold Winners

School Student Game Title Poster Paper
DigipenDavid KanigelSilent Hill 2: Restless Dreams View
Brian FrantzWorld of Goo View
Christopher KrawczukFinal Fantasy X View
Southern Methodist UniversityDimitrius PennebakerSilent Hill 2 View
Gideon SheebMass Effect View
Jaddua RossDisgaea 3: Absence of Justice View
Jeffrey BickelAssassin's Creed View
John GoyetteShadowbane View
Joshua KastenAmnesia: The Dark Descent View
Mitch CrossleyBaldur's Gate II: Shadows of Amn View
Philip RileyBaldur's Gate II: Shadows of Amn View
Stephen ChinHomefront View View
Todd NellingKnights of the Old Republic View

2010


Platinum Winners

School Student Game Title Poster Paper
DePaulDavid HenryThe Dark Eye View
DigipenBenjamin VandergriftGuild War: Prophecies View
Southern Methodist UniversityAndy KimDwarf Fortress View

Gold Winners

School Student Game Title Poster Paper
Carnegie MellonBenjamin MillerHeavy Rain View View
DePaulJohn MurphyThe Path
DigipenZach BarthHalf-Life 2 View
Ryan DurlandSecret of Monkey Island View
Patrick HayesShin Megami Tensei: Persona 4 View
Zabir HogueHalo ODST View
Sean HunterSuper Metroid View
Kwan PerngPortal View
Michael LobatoUncharted 2 View
Even McCrainOkami View
Andrew McWilliamsKillzone 2 View
Jay ParsellXenosaga 1 View
Samer RayyanPersona 3 View
Nicholas RotondoShadow of the Colossus View
Christopher TallmanThe Neverhood View
Rochester Institute of TechnologyHallWorld of Goo
Amy LiPhoenix Wright: Ace Attorney View
Alex LifschitzFar Cry 2 View View
Nathan PalsonEternal Darkness View
David SilvermanCave Story View
Southern Methodist UniversityChuck BartholomewSuper Paper Mario View View
Stephen ChinMass Effect View
Chase GordonEarthbound View
Taylor KerrGolden Sun View View
Patrick MoatesDragon Age: Origins View
Vicki SmithTales of Monkey Island View
Kevin WeiOddworld: Abe's Oddysee View

2009


Platinum Winners

School Student Game Title Poster Paper
DigipenPatrick MartinPrey View
Derrick ReadingerBraid

Gold Winners

School Student Game Title Poster Paper
DigipenJustin BillerLegend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time View
Caleb FisherFinal Fantasy X
Steven HammondResident Evil 4 View
Ben JohnsonMetal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots View
Adam MiddletonShadow of the Colossus View
Jeff RobinsonDreamfall: The Longest Journey
Doug WilliamsBioshock View
Rochester Institute of TechnologyAlex LifschitzDead Space View View
Southern Methodist UniversityMichael BrannanChrono Trigger View
Tyler BuserHalf-Life View View

2008


Overall Winners

School Student Game Title Poster Paper
DigipenErik OsabenSilent Hill 2 View
UBM Tech