environmental storytelling

Meanings

1. The art of conveying narrative elements through the game's environment rather than direct exposition; the method of using a space's design, objects, and subtle details to create a story that players can piece together on their own, making them active participants in the narrative.

1. Accompanying a photograph or screenshot, noting that a preceding event, or sequence of events, can be easily inferred or imagined.

Etymology

From environmental + storytelling. The phrase gained prominence as an internet meme and caption for images on Twitter in the early 2020s. (See KYM.)