i think it really depends. i love stories in games, most of the time i play games for the story, but i also mostly play horror games where you need a story to create anything scary. i think it really depends like hechelion said.. depends on the genre of your game and what you want to create for your player. are you trying to create an experience that guides the player through a world and that is the entertainment? or are you trying to create an experience that entertains them through challenges and building their skill? u just gotta think about what is important to you in your game.