I’m working on a 2D narrative decision-based game with RPG-style stats. The core is story-driven, but right now I feel it lacks engaging gameplay moments. I’d like to add some light game mechanics or mini-games that fit naturally with the narrative, without breaking immersion.

For example, I’ve seen other narrative games use small mechanics like quizzes, roulette wheels, rock-paper-scissors, or even tic-tac-toe as interactive “knots” where the story branches.

In my game, you play as a medieval prisoner sentenced to death, trying to escape through choices and consequences. I’m looking for ideas on what kind of mechanics or mini-games could work here, adding tension and variety while keeping the narrative flow intact.

Do you have any suggestions or examples of mechanics that could fit this type of setting?

Thanks a lot!

It depends on what exactly player do to escape. If player starts from a cellroom, you'd need to design where would player go to escape. Once you've designed the paths, you could choose what kind of mini games which could be inserted into each section.

Yes, it depends, but for the basics and starting from your description; you could make a puzzle for opening cages, using keys, or more creative scenarios using medieval tools for opening doors (in puzzles of course). If the prisioner needs to hide from catchers or knights, maybe a simple system where the player is forced to listen close movements or something like that. But we need more details.

I'm sledomly a puzzle game guy, but I once played a game wherer you unlock doors, kinda like this one:

Maybe you can find a few puzzles that you like and put your own spin on them for your game.