Interactive Digital Narratives (IDNs) are accounts of connected events (a story) represented on digital systems. Through interactivity, IDNs afford ways for users to directly engage with the information embedded in the system’s rules in an accessible way that taps into the user’s conscious, reflective learning abilities. IDN research is relatively young and there is much to be done to harness IDNs’ storytelling potential, and requires insights from disciplines such as Human-Computer Interaction, Digital Media & Communication Studies, and Narrative Studies.

This interdisciplinary, full-day hybrid workshop brings together researchers to begin identifying storytelling structures, techniques, and traditions that could support digital audience/user-interactions from a games-and-play-centric angle to explore interaction design through structured play and how meaning emerges from player-game interactions. This practical, communal knowledge will help IDN designers in creating engaging, impactful narrative experiences and guide researchers toward future areas of study.

We invite you to submit a maximum of 500-words describing your research and its relation to the workshop topics and goals, and a 200-word bio using the following form no later than October 3, 2025. This will give the organizers an idea of the breadth of knowledge and expertise to anticipate for the workshop. You can expect notifications of acceptance to HCNI@CHI PLAY by October 7, 2025.

We welcome interested participants from any discipline and experience level to respond! Note that all participants must also register for to attend CHI PLAY in-person or remotely on the date of the workshop (October 13, 2025).

Interested in joining us? Submit Your Research Statement and Bio Here!
Questions? Send us an email!