Artur Ganszyniec
@agansz.bsky.social
Consulting Narrative Designer
Poland based game designer, writer, and educator
Co-author of https://howandwhywemake.games
Masterclasses, workshops, mentoring https://narrativedesign.online
Writing about narrative design https://the-narrative-designer.com
Poland based game designer, writer, and educator
Co-author of https://howandwhywemake.games
Masterclasses, workshops, mentoring https://narrativedesign.online
Writing about narrative design https://the-narrative-designer.com
Pinned
Artur Ganszyniec
@agansz.bsky.social
· Nov 21
Short introduction:
- Witcher 1 & 2 Lead Narrative Designer for CDPR
- text-based journalistic indies for Different Tales
- cute mobile puzzle-based games for ATGames
- AA and Tripple-I prototypes for 11 bit studios, Anshar Studios, and BLANK.
- teaching story design at Lodz University of Technology
- Witcher 1 & 2 Lead Narrative Designer for CDPR
- text-based journalistic indies for Different Tales
- cute mobile puzzle-based games for ATGames
- AA and Tripple-I prototypes for 11 bit studios, Anshar Studios, and BLANK.
- teaching story design at Lodz University of Technology
In this episode of The Witcher with a designer’s commentary, after A LOT of tactical errors and preventable deaths, we finally kill Azar Javed, and learn who's behind the Salamandra.
And it seems that in the next episode we’ll be finishing the game.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=8W5H...
And it seems that in the next episode we’ll be finishing the game.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=8W5H...
Ep. 25 –The Witcher with a designer's commentary: Chapter 5 (part 3)
YouTube video by Artur Ganszyniec
www.youtube.com
February 8, 2026 at 9:12 AM
In this episode of The Witcher with a designer’s commentary, after A LOT of tactical errors and preventable deaths, we finally kill Azar Javed, and learn who's behind the Salamandra.
And it seems that in the next episode we’ll be finishing the game.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=8W5H...
And it seems that in the next episode we’ll be finishing the game.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=8W5H...
In this episode of The Witcher with a designer’s commentary we scare drowners and save princesses.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vmx1...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vmx1...
Ep. 24 –The Witcher with a designer's commentary: Chapter 5 (part 2)
YouTube video by Artur Ganszyniec
www.youtube.com
February 1, 2026 at 12:06 PM
In this episode of The Witcher with a designer’s commentary we scare drowners and save princesses.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vmx1...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vmx1...
In this episode of The Witcher with a designer’s commentary, we have a close encounter with a goddess, kill a god, and learn that even when we're not interested in politics, politics can be interested in us. And we finish Chapter 4.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ghq5...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ghq5...
Ep. 22 –The Witcher with a designer's commentary: Chapter 4 (part 6)
YouTube video by Artur Ganszyniec
www.youtube.com
January 17, 2026 at 5:10 PM
In this episode of The Witcher with a designer’s commentary, we have a close encounter with a goddess, kill a god, and learn that even when we're not interested in politics, politics can be interested in us. And we finish Chapter 4.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ghq5...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ghq5...
In this episode of The Witcher with a designer’s commentary, we talk about midpoints, suffer an awkwardly-written scene, listen about the Holy Grail, and repair a broken mirror.
youtu.be/Q-S8okZ1IP4
youtu.be/Q-S8okZ1IP4
Ep. 21 –The Witcher with a designer's commentary: Chapter 4 (part 5)
YouTube video by Artur Ganszyniec
youtu.be
January 9, 2026 at 5:31 PM
In this episode of The Witcher with a designer’s commentary, we talk about midpoints, suffer an awkwardly-written scene, listen about the Holy Grail, and repair a broken mirror.
youtu.be/Q-S8okZ1IP4
youtu.be/Q-S8okZ1IP4
In this episode of The Witcher with a designer’s commentary, we just chill on the fields, admire the starry sky, and kill some monsters. Nothing at stake, just witcher chapter 4 vibes.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=CFGx...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=CFGx...
Ep. 19 –The Witcher with a designer's commentary: Chapter 4 (part 3)
YouTube video by Artur Ganszyniec
www.youtube.com
December 29, 2025 at 12:44 PM
In this episode of The Witcher with a designer’s commentary, we just chill on the fields, admire the starry sky, and kill some monsters. Nothing at stake, just witcher chapter 4 vibes.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=CFGx...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=CFGx...
In this episode of The Witcher with a designer’s commentary, we visit a village, foreshadow some family drama, meet a very beautiful cow, and discuss Polish literature.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=V0v1...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=V0v1...
Ep. 18 –The Witcher with a designer's commentary: Chapter 4 (part 2)
YouTube video by Artur Ganszyniec
www.youtube.com
December 21, 2025 at 9:32 PM
In this episode of The Witcher with a designer’s commentary, we visit a village, foreshadow some family drama, meet a very beautiful cow, and discuss Polish literature.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=V0v1...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=V0v1...
In this episode of The Witcher with a designer’s commentary we explore a lakeside, and talk with a grumpy fisherman, a jaded witcher, and some scantily clad ladies.
youtu.be/j58zsroEqUg
youtu.be/j58zsroEqUg
Ep. 17 –The Witcher with a designer's commentary: Chapter 4 (part 1)
YouTube video by Artur Ganszyniec
youtu.be
December 17, 2025 at 6:56 PM
In this episode of The Witcher with a designer’s commentary we explore a lakeside, and talk with a grumpy fisherman, a jaded witcher, and some scantily clad ladies.
youtu.be/j58zsroEqUg
youtu.be/j58zsroEqUg
In this episode of The Witcher with a designer’s commentary, we explore a lakeside, learn foreign languages, meet two scantily clad ladies, a talkative fisherman, and one jaded witcher.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=j58z...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=j58z...
Ep. 17 –The Witcher with a designer's commentary: Chapter 4 (part 1)
YouTube video by Artur Ganszyniec
www.youtube.com
December 12, 2025 at 4:08 PM
In this episode of The Witcher with a designer’s commentary, we explore a lakeside, learn foreign languages, meet two scantily clad ladies, a talkative fisherman, and one jaded witcher.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=j58z...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=j58z...
In today’s episode of The Witcher with a designer’s commentary, we lift a curse, talk to a king, and kill a queen www.youtube.com/watch?v=dSvW...
Ep. 16 –The Witcher with a designer's commentary: Chapter 3 (part 6)
YouTube video by Artur Ganszyniec
www.youtube.com
December 5, 2025 at 4:14 PM
In today’s episode of The Witcher with a designer’s commentary, we lift a curse, talk to a king, and kill a queen www.youtube.com/watch?v=dSvW...
In this episode of The Witcher with a designer’s commentary, we rudely interrupt an online meeting, talk to a king, and meet a werewolf.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=LWPP...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=LWPP...
Ep. 15 –The Witcher with a designer's commentary: Chapter 3 (part 5)
YouTube video by Artur Ganszyniec
www.youtube.com
November 29, 2025 at 10:40 AM
In this episode of The Witcher with a designer’s commentary, we rudely interrupt an online meeting, talk to a king, and meet a werewolf.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=LWPP...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=LWPP...
In today’s episode of The Witcher witch a designer’s commentary, we assist in a bank robbery and make other important life choices.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sqwf...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sqwf...
Ep. 14 –The Witcher with a designer's commentary: Chapter 3 (part 4)
YouTube video by Artur Ganszyniec
www.youtube.com
November 21, 2025 at 6:38 PM
In today’s episode of The Witcher witch a designer’s commentary, we assist in a bank robbery and make other important life choices.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sqwf...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sqwf...
In today’s episode of The Witcher with a designer’s commentary we talk to a ghoul, explore old ruins and go to a posh party, where we meet a princess www.youtube.com/watch?v=o6Oe...
Ep. 13 –The Witcher with a designer's commentary: Chapter 3 (part 3)
YouTube video by Artur Ganszyniec
www.youtube.com
November 14, 2025 at 4:59 PM
In today’s episode of The Witcher with a designer’s commentary we talk to a ghoul, explore old ruins and go to a posh party, where we meet a princess www.youtube.com/watch?v=o6Oe...
In our The Witcher play through with a designer’s commentary we finally finish the beautifully messy Chapter 2
www.youtube.com/watch?v=eEsn...
#witcher #thewitcher #gamedesign #narrativedesign
www.youtube.com/watch?v=eEsn...
#witcher #thewitcher #gamedesign #narrativedesign
October 25, 2025 at 6:39 AM
In our The Witcher play through with a designer’s commentary we finally finish the beautifully messy Chapter 2
www.youtube.com/watch?v=eEsn...
#witcher #thewitcher #gamedesign #narrativedesign
www.youtube.com/watch?v=eEsn...
#witcher #thewitcher #gamedesign #narrativedesign
I stumbled upon a real treasure (well... my mom did, while cleaning, and she let me know about the finding) – a 2007 publication by CD Projekt advertising an upcoming game called The Witcher. #thewitcher
What a fascinating piece of video game history!
www.the-narrative-designer.com/the-witcher-...
What a fascinating piece of video game history!
www.the-narrative-designer.com/the-witcher-...
October 13, 2025 at 5:24 PM
I stumbled upon a real treasure (well... my mom did, while cleaning, and she let me know about the finding) – a 2007 publication by CD Projekt advertising an upcoming game called The Witcher. #thewitcher
What a fascinating piece of video game history!
www.the-narrative-designer.com/the-witcher-...
What a fascinating piece of video game history!
www.the-narrative-designer.com/the-witcher-...
In another episode of our "The Witcher" adventure, we are trying to solve the investigation in Vyzima, only to realise that we must go back to the swamp forest. Again.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wwim...
#witcher #thewitcher #geralt #gamedesign #narrativesedign
www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wwim...
#witcher #thewitcher #geralt #gamedesign #narrativesedign
Ep. 7 –The Witcher with a designer's commentary: Chapter 2 (part 4)
YouTube video by Artur Ganszyniec
www.youtube.com
October 3, 2025 at 6:45 PM
In another episode of our "The Witcher" adventure, we are trying to solve the investigation in Vyzima, only to realise that we must go back to the swamp forest. Again.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wwim...
#witcher #thewitcher #geralt #gamedesign #narrativesedign
www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wwim...
#witcher #thewitcher #geralt #gamedesign #narrativesedign
In today’s episode of the Witcher play-though with a designer's commentary, we visit the confusing and mosquito-ridden swamp forest.
#witcher #thewitcher #gamedesign #narrativedesign
youtu.be/nfAcEpPOJek?...
#witcher #thewitcher #gamedesign #narrativedesign
youtu.be/nfAcEpPOJek?...
Ep. 6 –The Witcher with a designer's commentary: Chapter 2 (part 3)
YouTube video by Artur Ganszyniec
youtu.be
September 26, 2025 at 3:15 PM
In today’s episode of the Witcher play-though with a designer's commentary, we visit the confusing and mosquito-ridden swamp forest.
#witcher #thewitcher #gamedesign #narrativedesign
youtu.be/nfAcEpPOJek?...
#witcher #thewitcher #gamedesign #narrativedesign
youtu.be/nfAcEpPOJek?...
Continuing our The Witcher play-through with a designer's commentary we dip our finger in the Temple Quarter of Vizima, meet two the-witcher-team lookalikes and help some working girls. Enjoy :)
youtu.be/AO-zY0dGY8U
#witcher #thewitcher #gamedesign #narrativedesign
youtu.be/AO-zY0dGY8U
#witcher #thewitcher #gamedesign #narrativedesign
September 12, 2025 at 4:02 PM
Continuing our The Witcher play-through with a designer's commentary we dip our finger in the Temple Quarter of Vizima, meet two the-witcher-team lookalikes and help some working girls. Enjoy :)
youtu.be/AO-zY0dGY8U
#witcher #thewitcher #gamedesign #narrativedesign
youtu.be/AO-zY0dGY8U
#witcher #thewitcher #gamedesign #narrativedesign
In the third episode of playing The Witcher 18 years after the release, we uncover dark secrets, continue romancing in suspicious circumstances and finish our adventure in the Outskirts of Vizima.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=RQiV...
#thewitcher #witcher #gamedesign #narrativedesign
www.youtube.com/watch?v=RQiV...
#thewitcher #witcher #gamedesign #narrativedesign
September 5, 2025 at 5:52 PM
In the third episode of playing The Witcher 18 years after the release, we uncover dark secrets, continue romancing in suspicious circumstances and finish our adventure in the Outskirts of Vizima.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=RQiV...
#thewitcher #witcher #gamedesign #narrativedesign
www.youtube.com/watch?v=RQiV...
#thewitcher #witcher #gamedesign #narrativedesign
Today, on the Witcher playthrough with a designer’s commentary, Chapter 1 (part one).
youtu.be/_9lANHosFk0
#thewitcher #witcher #gamedesign #narrativedesign
youtu.be/_9lANHosFk0
#thewitcher #witcher #gamedesign #narrativedesign
August 30, 2025 at 7:50 AM
Today, on the Witcher playthrough with a designer’s commentary, Chapter 1 (part one).
youtu.be/_9lANHosFk0
#thewitcher #witcher #gamedesign #narrativedesign
youtu.be/_9lANHosFk0
#thewitcher #witcher #gamedesign #narrativedesign
Eighteen years after the release, I play The Witcher, a game I worked on as the Lead Story Designer. Come and watch for designer’s commentary and anecdotes from behind the scenes.
The plan is to post new episodes once a week🤞
www.youtube.com/watch?v=epJH...
#thewitcher #narrativedesign
The plan is to post new episodes once a week🤞
www.youtube.com/watch?v=epJH...
#thewitcher #narrativedesign
August 24, 2025 at 6:37 AM
Eighteen years after the release, I play The Witcher, a game I worked on as the Lead Story Designer. Come and watch for designer’s commentary and anecdotes from behind the scenes.
The plan is to post new episodes once a week🤞
www.youtube.com/watch?v=epJH...
#thewitcher #narrativedesign
The plan is to post new episodes once a week🤞
www.youtube.com/watch?v=epJH...
#thewitcher #narrativedesign
Today’s post on The Narrative Designer was triggered by an old photograph, and digs into some ancient gamedev history.
I muse about what happened to the team who made the first Witcher game, and how game studios are like the Ship of Theseus.
www.the-narrative-designer.com/the-question...
I muse about what happened to the team who made the first Witcher game, and how game studios are like the Ship of Theseus.
www.the-narrative-designer.com/the-question...
August 12, 2025 at 5:50 AM
Today’s post on The Narrative Designer was triggered by an old photograph, and digs into some ancient gamedev history.
I muse about what happened to the team who made the first Witcher game, and how game studios are like the Ship of Theseus.
www.the-narrative-designer.com/the-question...
I muse about what happened to the team who made the first Witcher game, and how game studios are like the Ship of Theseus.
www.the-narrative-designer.com/the-question...
In the newest issue of The Narrative Designer, I write about curiosity-based stories. the-narrative-designer.com
#narrativedesign #gamedesign
#narrativedesign #gamedesign
April 21, 2025 at 10:07 AM
In the newest issue of The Narrative Designer, I write about curiosity-based stories. the-narrative-designer.com
#narrativedesign #gamedesign
#narrativedesign #gamedesign
My, narrative designerzy, jesteśmy zwykle samoukami. Przy braku formalnej edukacji i platformy do wymiany doświadczeń, wyważamy często drzwi, które inni już nie raz otwarli.
Zapraszam na warsztaty z narrative designu przygotowane przez zawodowca dla zawodowców.
Więcej na narrativedesign.online
Zapraszam na warsztaty z narrative designu przygotowane przez zawodowca dla zawodowców.
Więcej na narrativedesign.online
March 17, 2025 at 5:11 PM
My, narrative designerzy, jesteśmy zwykle samoukami. Przy braku formalnej edukacji i platformy do wymiany doświadczeń, wyważamy często drzwi, które inni już nie raz otwarli.
Zapraszam na warsztaty z narrative designu przygotowane przez zawodowca dla zawodowców.
Więcej na narrativedesign.online
Zapraszam na warsztaty z narrative designu przygotowane przez zawodowca dla zawodowców.
Więcej na narrativedesign.online
What keeps us on the edge of our seats is the tension between hope and fear. To feel it, we must understand what the protagonist wants to achieve and what’s at stake if they fail. This is especially true when, as players, we are responsible for carrying out the plan.
the-narrative-designer.com
the-narrative-designer.com
March 10, 2025 at 9:08 AM
What keeps us on the edge of our seats is the tension between hope and fear. To feel it, we must understand what the protagonist wants to achieve and what’s at stake if they fail. This is especially true when, as players, we are responsible for carrying out the plan.
the-narrative-designer.com
the-narrative-designer.com
So far, on the-narrative-designer.com we’ve discussed the big picture: goals, conflicts, protagonists, story structures, and nonlinearity.
This week we zoom in on the basic building block of any interactive experience, the triad of crisis, struggle, and resolution...
#narrativedesign #gamedesign
This week we zoom in on the basic building block of any interactive experience, the triad of crisis, struggle, and resolution...
#narrativedesign #gamedesign
February 25, 2025 at 5:32 PM
So far, on the-narrative-designer.com we’ve discussed the big picture: goals, conflicts, protagonists, story structures, and nonlinearity.
This week we zoom in on the basic building block of any interactive experience, the triad of crisis, struggle, and resolution...
#narrativedesign #gamedesign
This week we zoom in on the basic building block of any interactive experience, the triad of crisis, struggle, and resolution...
#narrativedesign #gamedesign