User Experience in Entertainment and Educational Interactive Narratives: A Cross-Sector Survey of Need Fulfillment, Effectance, and Affect

Abstract

Interactive digital narratives are increasingly used in entertainment and education, yet it remains unclear which experiential qualities users value most and whether these preferences differ across contexts. This thesis investigates user-reported preferences and experiences in interactive narratives through a literature-informed study covering dimensions of agency, immersion, psychological need fulfillment, affect, and narrative-related experience. The study draws on survey responses from participants who reported focal interactive narratives, and it compares user experiences between the entertainment and educational contexts. The results suggest that entertainment experiences are associated with stronger autonomy, more positive affect, and higher flow than educational experiences, while open-ended responses highlight the importance of meaningful choices, branching consequences, story quality, and usability. Overall, the findings support the view that users value interactive narratives most when they combine story engagement with a clear sense of impact on the unfolding experience. The thesis contributes a narrative-sensitive survey framework for comparing interactive narrative experiences across sectors and offers practical implications for the design of more engaging and user-centered interactive stories.