About

I'm David Mato (Dave), Narrative Designer, Game Writer, and Worldbuilder.
I help game teams turn strong ideas into functional narrative design, story structures, and cohesive game worlds that support gameplay and are ready for production.

I most often collaborate with teams that have a solid core concept but need to strengthen their story structure, character motivation, and internal world logic so players have a clear reason to stay engaged. 

How I Think About Story in Games

I see game storytelling as a system  a network of decisions, consequences, emotions, and mechanics experienced directly through gameplay. For me, narrative design is not just lore; it's the integration of interactive storytelling, gameplay systems, and player experience.

That's why I focus on:

• designing story structures that are readable, scalable, and production-feasible

• maintaining world consistency throughout production and iteration

• strengthening player agency through meaningful choices and consequences

• identifying character motivations and resolving structural weaknesses

• defining the core fantasy and reinforcing it through narrative systems

Usually, I join a project when:

• The team needs a unified narrative direction to make decisions faster and with fewer internal conflicts

• The world is full of ideas but lacks clear rules, tone, and a cohesive worldbuilding framework

• Quest design and dialogue work individually but lack momentum and systemic consequences

• The story exists but doesn't form a functional story structure

What Collaboration Looks Like

We usually begin with a short conversation to clarify goals, scope, and development phase. I then propose a structured narrative approach, define priorities, and deliver writing and documentation that integrate smoothly into gameplay systems and production pipelines.

Why Storysmith

Storysmith represents my approach to narrative design: treating storytelling seriously, but building it practically and systemically. I create game worlds and narrative structures that withstand design changes, iteration, and production realities while remaining cohesive throughout development.

Want to talk about your project?
Get in touch and we'll quickly determine how narrative design, game writing, or worldbuilding can support your game project.