Stories are more fun when you feel in control—but still surprised. That’s why Unwritten introduces Story Direction, a “nudging” system designed to give you subtle influence over how the story unfolds.
Where to Find It
Under the usual chat interface in Unwritten, you’ll find a button labeled “Story Direction.” Clicking it opens a panel at the bottom of the screen showing a list of buttons, each representing a different narrative direction or mood.
Before selecting a story choice or typing your response, you can click a button to nudge the AI.
- Click/Tap: Influences the next scene only—enough to steer the immediate story.
- Press & Hold / Tap & Hold: Extends the effect to five scenes/interactions, with a countdown underneath showing how many scenes remain.
How Nudging Works
Each button represents an intent for the next scene. Here are some example nudges (not all available nudges are listed here):
| Name | Description |
|---|---|
| Neutral | Let the AI respond naturally without guidance. |
| Wholesome | Gentle, kind, and comforting tone. |
| Mysterious | Add mystery, riddles, and indirect meaning. |
| Cosmic | Imbue replies with cosmic or existential themes. |
| Challenging | Push back or challenge user choices. |
| Playful | Add humor, sarcasm, or light teasing. |
| 🤗 | A warm embrace, emotionally or physically. |
| 🌟 | Let the player feel seen or praised. |
| 😊 | Subtle warmth; a moment of kindness or understanding. |
| ❤️ | Affection or bonding in the story. |
| 🍀 | Unexpected fortune or discovery. |
| 🛡️ | Protective scenes or secure moments. |
| 👀 | Someone understands or deeply relates to the player. |
| 🌅 | Optimism or signs of improvement. |
| 🌧️ | Quiet beauty, introspection, or melancholy. |
| 🌀 | Embrace absurd or surreal elements. |
| 🦁 | Player gains confidence or control. |
| 🎭 | Highlight futility, irony, or satire. |
| 😂 | Lighthearted or humorous tones. |
| 👻 | Eerie or unsettling moments (not terrifying). |
| 🌸 | A mix of loss and beauty. |
| 🎯 | Surprising luck or chance events. |
| 🆘 | An NPC lends a hand or assists. |
| 🎁 | A character gives something meaningful. |
| 🤝 | Reconnecting with someone or something from the past. |
Why This Is Useful
The Nudging feature allows you to steer your story without taking full control, keeping the narrative dynamic but guided. Some benefits include:
- Personalized Storytelling: Influence tone, emotion, or narrative style exactly how you want.
- Enhanced Roleplay: Ensure interactions reflect your intended character or world mood.
- Subtle Guidance: Push the story in a direction without breaking immersion.
- Experimentation: Test different story paths and moods on the fly.
- Extended Influence: Hold a nudge to maintain the same tone across multiple scenes.
- Ownership of the Narrative: This is your world—if you want cosmic dread or playful mischief, the AI will follow your lead.
With Nudging, Unwritten gives you a playful lever to co-author your story, making each session feel more responsive and alive.
Tip: Nudges don’t always override the AI completely, but they gently steer the story, ensuring your chosen direction influences the scene while keeping surprises and emergent moments intact.