More often than not while playing a game we’re going to hit a so-called ‘Point of No Return’ (PNR). Most of the time this PNR marks a spot where the player gets cut off certain areas or contents. Sometimes you can revisit those places after a while, sometimes it’s impossible. Either you have to go back and replay the game or you have to move forward with what you got. PNRs usually have a rather bad reputation among players, because they usually tend to frustrate them. Let’s take a look at how to design a point of no return properly and what you should avoid.
Understanding The Purpose Of The PNR
The PNR is an irreversible decision that drives the narrative forward while also sealing off certain parts you’ve left behind. The PNR adds a whole new layer of emotions and immersion to the player’s journey. It boosts their anticipation and raises the stakes on their adventure because it creates a sense of urgency. Either way, making it resonate with players and enhance their overall experience requires a careful consideration and strategic implementation.
It can be a powerful tool to increase the tension & consequences of your game but it can also cause frustration. People dread nothing more than accidentally passing a PNR and the only way to get back is starting over. Let’s take a look at the two most important purposes of implementing a point of no return: narrative and mechanical.
The Narrative Point of No Return
The purpose of a narrative PNR is to signal a turning point of the story that will change or influence the gameplay significantly. It could be an upcoming plot twist that changes the world considerably like a character’s death or war breaking out in the kingdom. On the other hand, it could also be that the player is forced to face the consequences of their choices and actions.
A point of no return is a very powerful tool in your narratives since it gives the player a sense of urgency and importance. They know once they continue, that something important is going to happen. It keeps them on their toes and makes them curious about what lies ahead.
It’s important to mark a PNR when you plan on destroying specific areas of the game or if certain NPCs are going to be inaccessible after that chapter. All of this requires a lot of planning ahead in order to make sure your players don’t miss out on anything, especially in big open-world games.
The Mechanical Point Of No Return
Mechanical PNRs focus less on the story than on the gameplay itself. They often get incorporated into levels where you have to jump down a huge wall or slide down a slope to get to the next area. They are there to streamline the game experience by eliminating the possibility of going back and focusing instead on what lies ahead.
Linear games especially love to use this kind of PNR to keep the players focused on the climax and resolution of the story instead of backtracking all the time. However, if you plan on suddenly letting your player fall through the ground to enter the next stage of the level, give them enough room to explore the area beforehand.
For example, if the player is running through a temple ruin, don’t place the trap randomly in the exploration area in front of the structure but rather place it on the way towards the entrance. The player knows that their goal is to get into the temple, so they are going to explore the area first before heading towards the point of interest (POI) which is the entrance.
Designing An Impactful PNR
Now that we know the different purposes of the PNR, be it narrative or mechanical, we now need to look at the key points we need to design one ourselves. Being able to know how and when to set a point of no return will not only stop your players from getting frustrated by content being cut off from them but it also will raise the anticipation they have.
Be Clear And Warn Your Players
Clearly communicating your intention to the player is key when it comes to implementing PNRs. Make it obvious they’ve just reached a point of no return with in-game dialogues, visual cues, or warning messages. Providing your player with ample warning allows them to make informed decisions and prepare for the consequences of their choices.
If a player runs into a PNR warning, they will be hesitant to continue. Why here? Why now? What’s going to happen if I move forward? Am I going to lose my stuff? Suddenly is a sense of thread, a sense of fear. Something is going to happen, no matter if they like it or not. Most of them will only continue the mission once they’ve made sure they’ve completed and wrapped up everything before moving forward with the quest.
Strategic Placement
The position of the PNR is very important and has to be kept in mind all the time. Positioning the point of no return near the climax of your game’s narrative arc ensures that the players have sufficient time to experience the world, make meaningful choices and develop a connection with the characters.
If you make too many or if you place them too early in the game it can feel jarring and disruptive, while if you forget or implement them too late, it will cause frustration or they might fail to have the desired impact.
Make Sure Your Player Is Prepared
Whenever you plan on setting a point of no return, you have to make sure your player is ready for it. Does he have enough level and equipment? Is there a way he can restock his items if necessary? A PNR should be an opportunity for the players to show their skill and not to be punished because they didn’t get the opportunity to prepare for this moment.
Integrate them Into Your Story
If you combine the PNR with your story it adds a whole new layer of emotional depth and immersion to your game. Be it a significant plot twist, a character’s sacrifice or a revelation that alters the player’s understanding of the world. The PNR should blend in with the world surrounding it which increases its believability and makes it feel more organic.
Players Choices & Actions
If your game revolves around players being able to make their own choices and define the course of the game, don’t forget to include it in the PNR. The point of no return should mark a significant spot where the player’s decisions influence the flow of the story. Everything the player has done up to that point should have their consequences played out afterwards. If they choose to do something (or if they choose not to), they should feel the impact of their choices.
Be Consistent With Your PNRs Warnings
If you decide to put PNR warnings into your game or not, once decided, you should stick with it. Players will trust you to put PNR warnings on certain quests if you have done it once, so they expect you to do it with every quest that falls into that category. Final Fantasy 16 for example has a PNR in the middle of it but none right before the final battle. While it makes sense for the story to end there, players are still able to accidentally continue the main quest without being able to actually finish all the side quests because there is no PNR warning when you start it.
Keep Track Of Your Content
Last but not least it is very important to keep track of all your content before and after the PNR. To ensure that players don’t miss out on anything, you have to be aware of everything. No matter if it’s side quests, collectibles or NPCs. That way you have an easier time planning your points of no return. Keeping an overview of your content helps you to see, what is going to be affected and what isn’t. The bigger the game is, the more impactful PNR can be.
As you can see, PNRs are never placed in a game out of the random mood of their developers. There is always a lot of thought and work behind them. Whenever you want to implement your PNRs, you should make sure to consider both your players and your own content. Make sure that everything works smoothly and that nothing gets lost in the void because of a PNR.
If you plan on making your own game from scratch, you’re probably also interested in how to create your own tutorials:
Immersive Learning: How To Design The Perfect Tutorial
Leave a Reply