ZOE FRANZNICK

MEANDERING MEDIVEALIST

Game Dev | Medievalist | Writer

ABOUT ME

I am an award-winning a narrative designer, medievalist, writer, podcaster, and writing mentor, among other things. I create and share stories that capture the human spirit and have a particular love for fantasy and magic.

My narrative work on my first game, Pentiment, has been nominated for a Nebula, a BAFTA, and GDC's Game of the Year and Innovation awards, and has won GDC's Best Narrative and a Peabody award for Interactive Storytelling, all in 2023.

I also co-host the Maniculum, a podcast that teaches listeners how to adapt medieval stories into TTRPG adventures and breaks down harmful cliches and stereotypes in modern fantasy literature and games.

After realizing there were few resources for aspiring narrative designers to learn how to break into the industry, I created some myself and now help aspiring narrative designers create strong portfolios and narratives with free resources.

I am proud to create stories that resonate with audiences around the world, and am always looking for my next adventure.

PROJECTS

Check out my current projects and works below.

MEDIEVALIST

As a medievalist, I study the theories of and patterns behind the stories we tell ourselves. I explore these connections in my papers, presentations, and ongoing research.

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NARRATIVE DESIGN

Rated 10/10 by IGN, a BAFTA & Nebula nominee, and Peabody and GDC winner, I'm incredibly proud to have been part of the team that brought Pentiment to life. I believe that narrative is a game mechanic that brings stories to life just as much as level design.

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PODCASTING

I am the co-host of the Maniculum podcast, a biweekly show where myself and my co-host make medieval texts accessible, break down anachronisms, and teach game design principles.

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MENTORSHIP

To help aspiring narrative designers break into the industry, I created and offer free resources for narrative design here on my website. When I can, I also mentor students & guest lecture at universities to better educate about the craft of narrative design.

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