{"id":8076,"date":"2025-06-05T10:21:58","date_gmt":"2025-06-05T08:21:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.presto.cz\/?p=8076"},"modified":"2025-10-02T15:23:30","modified_gmt":"2025-10-02T13:23:30","slug":"finding-the-right-voice-why-storytelling-still-needs-translating-in-indie-games","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.presto.cz\/en\/finding-the-right-voice-why-storytelling-still-needs-translating-in-indie-games","title":{"rendered":"Finding the Right Voice: Why Storytelling Still Needs Translating in Indie Games"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Kamil Pekergin | Key Account Manager<\/p><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n

Not long ago, someone in a Discord thread about game localisation wrote something that stuck with me: \u201cIf the game\u2019s good, the language shouldn\u2019t matter.\u201d It was meant as a compliment\u2014maybe even as praise for a game that had \u201ctranscended\u201d the need for translation. But I\u2019ve been thinking about that sentence ever since. Because while it sounds romantic, it\u2019s not really true. Not for story-driven games. Not for games that rely on tone, rhythm, subtext, or character voice. And certainly not for indie games\u2014where narrative is often the core of the experience.<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Glossaries define words, not how they\u2019re said<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

One of the quiet challenges in game localisation is capturing tone. Not just \u201cwhat\u2019s being said,\u201d but how<\/em>.

Anyone who\u2019s worked on branching dialogue, dry humor, or understated emotional arcs knows how much is communicated between the lines. Even word choices that seem simple (\u201cSure\u201d vs. \u201cWhy not\u201d vs. \u201cI guess\u201d) carry implications about mood, hesitation, or personality.

And this isn\u2019t exclusive to English. In fact, it becomes even more visible outside<\/em> it.

Take Norco, for example. A strange, poetic Southern Gothic point-and-click that lives and breathes through language. Localising something like that into Czech or German (or frankly any language) isn\u2019t just about translating phrases. It\u2019s about conveying atmosphere. It\u2019s almost literary work, but shaped to fit a branching dialogue tree.

It\u2019s why literal translation falls apart so fast in narrative games. You can\u2019t \u201csolve\u201d character voice with a glossary.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A few words about words (and why they\u2019re still part of gameplay)<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

There\u2019s a growing tendency to treat localisation like a pipeline problem. And sure, in some projects it is\u2014<\/strong>especially AAA titles with tens of thousands of strings, UI labels, updates, and expansions.

But indie games are different. In the best way. Because in many indie titles, words are<\/em> the gameplay. Not in an \u201cexposition dump\u201d kind of way, but in the rhythm of the writing. In how characters interrupt each other. In how a bad pun becomes a side quest. Or in the pacing of a one-sentence journal entry that reveals something personal about a character.

Games like Night in the Woods, Disco Elysium, and Undertale have all been translated into multiple languages because it mattered:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Night in the Woods \u2013 cultural nuance in translation<\/strong><\/summary>\n

Night in the Woods, known for its exploration of themes like mental health and small-town life, was given an official Italian localisation. The process involved translating the entire text of the game\u2019s demo into Italian, demonstrating the developers\u2019 commitment to making the game accessible to a broader audience while preserving its cultural nuances.<\/p>\n<\/details>\n\n\n\n

Disco Elysium \u2013 expanding reach through localisation<\/strong><\/summary>\n

Disco Elysium expanded its audience by adding Simplified Chinese localisation. Following this update, positive reviews from Chinese players surged, showing the impact that thoughtful localisation can have on player engagement and satisfaction.<\/p>\n<\/details>\n\n\n\n

Undertale \u2013 creator-led localisation efforts<\/strong><\/summary>\n

Undertale\u2019s creator, Toby Fox, collaborated closely with the localisation team to ensure the game\u2019s unique humor and tone were preserved in the Japanese version. Fox provided development notes and annotated dialog to the team, emphasizing the importance of maintaining the game\u2019s original voice across languages.<\/p>\n<\/details>\n\n\n\n

What localisation teams can (and can\u2019t) do<\/strong><\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

I don\u2019t want to pretend that localisation can always save a bad script (or elevate a flat joke). But when done well, it can do something rare: make a game feel like it was written for the player, no matter where they are.

To do that, you need:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \n
  • translators who know games, not just grammar;<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • proofreaders who understand pacing and text flow;<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • a dev team willing to leave room for adaptation, not just insertion.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n

    And yes, sometimes that means letting go of a phrase that sounds brilliant in the original\u2014because it just won\u2019t land in French, or Japanese, or Polish. That\u2019s not a loss. That\u2019s what storytelling is. It\u2019s what you do when you rework a scene to make it play<\/em> better. Localisation is the same process, just through a linguistic lens.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    The world is ready. Is your game?<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

    As a player, I\u2019ve never stopped being amazed by how much text can shape a game\u2019s identity. As someone working in localisation, I\u2019ve also seen how fragile that identity can be if it\u2019s left behind in the translation.

    The good news? Players around the world are more open than ever to indie games from all over. Tools like Steam, Itch.io, and Nintendo Store make discoverability possible. But the moment they click into your game, language becomes the first mechanic they engage with.

    Every title is different, and the best approach depends on your genre, timeline, and goals. Use the form below to get in touch\u2014whether you\u2019re looking for a rough estimate, advice on where to start, or just want to talk it through.<\/p>\n\n\n

    \n EN – Contact Form<\/legend>