Portfolio
Nicholas Popkey
Narrative Director & Story Architect
Building worlds where choices have consequences. Designing narrative systems, branching quests, and character-driven stories that feel authored yet reactive.
Gothic, moody, and eminently game-forward — exploring the intersection of player agency and narrative.
Nicholas Popkey
Narrative Director
With a passion for story-driven narrative games, I've been directing the story and narrative structure of sprawling RPGs since 2020. My background in the LA film industry supports my ability to craft compelling and cinematic games—strong scene craft, deliberate pacing, and distinctive character voice.
My debut title, Sovereign Syndicate, received strong critical praise for its unique Victorian-steampunk setting, complex writing, and character depth—drawing comparisons to Disco Elysium. Reviewers highlighted its innovative tarot-based skill system and rich world-building.
★ Best Narrative Game Award
2025 AMPIA Alberta Film and Television Awards (Rosies)
I've since led narrative direction on Hunter's Moon—a critically well-received roguelike deck builder praised for its immersive atmosphere and strong voice acting. Currently, I'm building Sovereign Syndicate 2, a party-based CRPG with tactical combat, and developing Studio Delirium, a game about running a studio chasing the next great Disco-like.
Selected titles:
Nicholas
Areas of Expertise
Articy:Draft X
Dialogue trees, quest design, variable logic, branching narratives
Unity & GitHub
Gameplay testing, dialogue integration, version control
Figma & Celtx
Visual workflows, screenplay writing, storyboarding
World Building
Setting design, lore development, period research
Quest Design
Mission architecture, player choice, consequence systems
Team Leadership
Onboarding writers, pipeline management, code reviews
Character Design
Character bibles, dialogue voice, arc development
Documentation
GDDs, narrative specs, technical writing
Case Studies
Click each dossier to explore dialogue systems, quest architecture, and documentation.
A Disco Elysium-inspired Victorian steampunk RPG. Hired as Lead Writer, promoted to Narrative Director after securing Canada Media Fund grant. Responsible for branching dialogue across four playable characters, questlines, and overall narrative cohesion.
- Drafted story outline with Game Producer and Creative Director
- Period-specific research for Victorian London setting
- Created development documents for NPCs, locations, and quests
- Vetted hiring and managed junior writers
- Tested and integrated dialogue within Unity
Research & Documentation
Interactive Dialogue
Iron Bear's Proposal
IRON BEAR: "Given that Silas is one of your clients, you may be able to help me. Arsenal is the premier weapons manufacturer in England. My people have the numbers, the resources and the will to defeat the Republic of Texas Rangers. We lack only the right weapons."
Sovereign Syndicate Overview
The Project Sovereign Syndicate is a Disco Elysium-inspired RPG set in a Victorian steampunk London where magic and technology coexist uneasily. Players navigate a world of social stratification, supernatural creatures, and political intrigue through four distinct playable characters. My Role I was ...
Gallery
Art by Tarik Boussekine
Manor Interior - Victorian estate setting
Art by Tarik Boussekine
Tavern - Social hub location
Let's Build Worlds Together
Looking for a narrative director who understands both story craft and systems design? Let's talk about your next project.