“Wonderment Within Weirdness”: How My Novel Incorporates Video Game Elements

One of the unique aspects of Wonderment Within Weirdness is how it incorporates elements that are reminiscent of video games, both in structure and in experience. While writing the novel, I found myself inspired not only by traditional books and storytelling, but also by the pacing, challenges, and mechanics often found in games. Interestingly, some early readers and reviewers have even noted that parts of the novel feel like playing a video game, which is a comparison that I find exciting because it speaks to the immersive and interactive feel of the narrative.

Video games are inherently interactive. Players make choices, explore vast worlds, and encounter challenges that require strategic thinking, skill, or creativity. In Wonderment Within Weirdness, I wanted to capture a similar sense of exploration and engagement. While readers do not “play” the story in the same way a gamer controls a character, the novel’s structure mirrors some of the same mechanics. Characters encounter obstacles that must be overcome using ingenuity, collaboration, or careful planning. Challenges escalate as the story progresses, just as levels or stages increase in difficulty in a game. The sense of tension, reward, and accomplishment that comes with overcoming these obstacles was deliberately woven into the pacing of the narrative.

Another aspect of video games that inspired the book is world-building. Many games create expansive universes that players can explore at their own pace, discovering secrets, side quests, and hidden lore. In Wonderment Within Weirdness, I aimed to create a similarly layered universe. There are multiverse-scale stakes, spiritual and cosmic dimensions, and layered narratives that reveal themselves gradually. Just like a game world, there are surprises and discoveries that reward attentive readers, encouraging exploration and engagement with the story beyond the main plot.

Combat and conflict resolution in the book also take cues from game-like dynamics. Characters face escalating challenges and powerful adversaries, similar to boss fights in games. Each encounter requires creative problem-solving and adaptation, and there are moments of tension that mirror the pacing of game sequences. However, the book also diverges from traditional gaming mechanics in that the resolutions often carry philosophical, absurdist, or non-violent elements, reflecting the novel’s broader thematic concerns rather than just the thrill of “winning.”

Some reviewers have specifically noted that the narrative feels like a hybrid between a novel and a game experience. They describe the story as having a sense of progression, stakes, and strategic problem-solving that is reminiscent of a game’s design. These comparisons are particularly satisfying because they highlight how the book engages readers in an active way. Much like a game, readers are encouraged to pay attention to details, anticipate potential consequences, and follow the characters’ choices and strategies as the story unfolds.

The influence of video games also appears in the novel’s structural and stylistic choices. Quick scene changes, shifting perspectives, and interwoven subplots create a sense of pacing and dynamism that echoes the way games often jump between different locations, missions, or storylines. This structure allows for both breadth and depth in storytelling, enabling readers to experience a sense of movement, urgency, and discovery throughout the narrative.

Additionally, the novel’s absurdist and humorous tone parallels the often exaggerated, over-the-top experiences found in many games. Just as games can blend comedy, drama, and action in ways that feel both ridiculous and entertaining, Wonderment Within Weirdness embraces an absurdist style that heightens the sense of unpredictability and engagement. Readers are invited to immerse themselves in a world that is strange, chaotic, and exciting, echoing the thrill of an unexpected plot twist or an unconventional game mechanic.

Another video game-inspired element in the story is the idea of exploration across multiple layers of reality. In games, players may traverse different worlds, dimensions, or levels, each with its own rules, challenges, and aesthetics. In the novel, the multiverse and spiritual dimensions function similarly. Characters move through distinct environments, encounter unique challenges, and learn new rules about how their universe—or universes—operate. This mirrors the sense of discovery that is central to many game experiences, creating a narrative that feels expansive and interactive without actually requiring a controller or console.

Even the protagonists’ growth and skill development reflect video game mechanics in some ways. Characters evolve, learn, and adapt in response to challenges. Just as a player gains experience points or abilities over the course of a game, the characters’ understanding of themselves, their powers, and the multiverse deepens as the story progresses. This progression contributes to a sense of achievement and forward momentum that keeps readers invested in the outcome.

It is also worth noting that my inspiration from video games comes not only from gameplay mechanics but also from narrative design. Many games excel at balancing main storylines with optional challenges, hidden lore, and thematic depth. I wanted Wonderment Within Weirdness to offer a similarly layered experience. Readers who pay attention to the details, themes, and subtle world-building are rewarded with deeper understanding and richer engagement, akin to discovering hidden easter eggs or completing optional quests in a game.

Ultimately, the comparison to video games is meaningful because it highlights how the novel is designed to be immersive, engaging, and interactive on an intellectual and emotional level. Readers are encouraged to follow the narrative closely, anticipate consequences, and engage with the characters’ challenges as if they themselves were navigating the complex world of the story. The book captures the excitement, unpredictability, and layered storytelling that many players enjoy in games, while adding the depth, thematic complexity, and absurdist humor that can only come from a novel.

In Wonderment Within Weirdness, the influence of video games is apparent in pacing, structure, problem-solving, world-building, character development, and thematic engagement. The story invites readers to experience a narrative that feels dynamic, unpredictable, and richly interactive, creating a reading experience that mirrors some of the excitement, tension, and discovery found in games. At the same time, it remains a novel first, balancing the immersive and playful elements of games with the literary tools, philosophical depth, and absurdist humor that define my writing style.

The result is a story that is part literary adventure, part interactive experience, and fully a unique and original work. By blending elements inspired by video games with absurdist humor, philosophical undertones, and multiversal stakes, Wonderment Within Weirdness offers readers a one-of-a-kind journey that feels expansive, energetic, and completely unpredictable.