The Secret Power of Journals and Notes in Game Lore

27 November 2025

You know that moment when you come across a dusty old book, tattered note, or cryptic diary entry while playing your favorite video game? That thrill of reading through a character’s last words or figuring out some hidden truth? Yeah, that’s the magic we’re talking about today.

Journals and notes seem like small things in the massive universe of video games, but they pack a serious punch when it comes to storytelling. They’re the whispered secrets of the game world, giving depth, emotion, and context to everything around you.

Let’s unpack why these scribbled scraps of paper, audio logs, and in-game diaries are one of the most powerful tools in game lore — and why they're worth paying attention to.

Why Game Lore Matters (And How Notes Fit In)

Before we dive into the nitty-gritty of journals and notes, let’s quickly talk about game lore. Lore is basically the backstory — the meat behind the game’s setting, characters, events, and world. It’s what makes a game feel alive.

Sure, gameplay and graphics hook us in, but lore is what keeps us playing. It’s what makes players fall in love with a game universe. And guess what? Notes and journals are often the spine of that lore.

They’re the breadcrumbs that guide us through the narrative forest. Miss them, and you might miss half the story.

The Story Beneath the Story

Games like Dark Souls, The Last of Us, Fallout, and BioShock are packed with world-building. But a lot of that lore isn't delivered through flashy cutscenes or lengthy dialogue.

Nope. It's in the notes left on a corpse, diaries hidden in bunkers, or journals tucked away in forgotten corners. These pieces of the story create emotional depth and texture without holding your hand.

Take Fallout, for example. You walk into a ruined office building. It’s empty — or so it seems. But then you find a terminal. On it is a log of old employee complaints, shift schedules, or panicked logs written during the fall of civilization. Suddenly, that building isn’t just “some place.” It’s a place with history, with people who lived and died there. Instant immersion.

The Emotional Hook

Let’s be real — some journal entries hit harder than boss fights.

They bring emotion in an unexpected way. Think of it like stumbling upon someone’s personal diary. You weren’t supposed to read it, but now that you have, you’re stuck with their truth. Often, it’s raw. Heartbreaking. Some entries are desperate goodbyes; others are joyful memories frozen in time.

In The Last of Us, players often find notes from survivors. Some are hopeful. Others are utterly devastating. These entries pull you into a character’s world, even if you never see them. It makes every abandoned house feel like someone’s home, not just set dressing.

Filling in the Blanks

Not everything gets explained in a game’s main storyline. And that’s where notes shine.

They’re perfect for filling in the blanks — those unexplained events, historical references, or mysterious characters. Developers use them to drop hints, foreshadow events, or expand on lore that wouldn’t naturally fit into the main dialogue.

Take Bloodborne. The story is famously cryptic, but players who dig into item descriptions, journals, and scattered notes piece together its cosmic horror masterpiece. It’s like solving a puzzle where each piece is hidden in plain sight.

Non-Linear Storytelling at Its Finest

One of the coolest things about notes and journals is how they let players uncover the story at their own pace.

You don’t have to follow a set path. Maybe you read a journal before you even meet the character who wrote it. Or perhaps you miss a piece entirely, and only find it on a second playthrough. That’s the beauty — it feels like your discovery.

Game developers use this to reward exploration. Players who search every drawer and check every corner are treated with a richer experience. It’s like unwrapping hidden gifts.

The Detective Element

Let’s be honest, part of the fun is playing detective. Notes often contain clues — maybe to unlock a safe, find a hidden room, or uncover a secret ending. Games like Resident Evil and Silent Hill are known for this.

Who doesn’t love piecing together a story from scattered pages, security logs, or scrawled messages on the wall? It makes you feel smart, connected, and fully immersed in the world.

In Control, notes and case files offer insight into the mysterious Bureau. They're not just flavor text — they’re puzzle pieces. Miss one, and you might never understand the full story behind what’s happening.

Giving Voice to the Voiceless

Some characters never appear on-screen. Others die before you meet them. But through their notes or journals, their voice lives on.

It’s a powerful narrative trick. You feel their presence through their words. It adds a sense of realism and tragedy. Especially when you see the world from their perspective — how they saw events unfold, what they feared, what they hoped.

In games like Subnautica, you’re alone in an alien ocean. But audio logs and written records from the crew who came before you give the story emotional weight. It turns isolation into connection.

Environmental Storytelling and the Extra Layer

Journals and notes don’t just tell stories — they make the world feel authentic. Combined with smart environmental storytelling, they create a lived-in universe.

You walk into a house. It’s burned out, filthy with age. On the table, a child's drawing. In the next room, a torn journal with an entry about evacuating. You start connecting the dots. The house isn’t just "scenery." It’s a snapshot of someone's life.

It’s like each note is a puzzle piece and the environment is the board. Together, they form a picture — and you’re the one putting it together.

Easter Eggs for the Lore Nerds

Let’s not forget the lore nerds (hey, proud to be one). Notes and journals are often loaded with Easter eggs. A seemingly throwaway line might connect to an entirely different game. A code name in a memo might hint at a future DLC.

FromSoftware games are notorious for this. Every scrap of dialogue, item description, or note might be hiding a revelation — but you’ve got to dig for it.

It makes replaying the game more rewarding because you notice things the second or third time that flew over your head before.

When Notes Are More Than Just Notes

Sometimes, journals and notes go beyond backstory. They can be core gameplay mechanics.

In Outer Wilds, the entire game revolves around learning through reading ancient texts and logs left by an extinct alien race. You progress not by leveling up or grinding — but by understanding.

It flips the usual gameplay loop. Instead of “What do I need to kill?”, it becomes “What do I need to learn?” That’s storytelling innovation at its finest.

The Power of Voice Logs and Audio Diaries

Not all notes are written. Some are recorded. And man, voice logs can be powerful.

BioShock proved this with its eerie audio diaries. Hearing the fear or arrogance in a character’s voice hits different. It gives them personality before you ever see them.

It’s like a mini radio drama tucked inside your game. And when used well, voice logs can be hauntingly effective — especially when the character’s fate is unknown.

Why You Should Start Paying Attention to Notes

Let’s be honest, a lot of us used to ignore in-game notes, right? We’d skim them or skip them entirely. But if you’re really into a game — like, emotionally invested — these little bits of text can transform your experience.

They turn generic NPCs into real people. They make locations feel like they have history. Notes add context, clarity, and feeling that the main story just doesn’t have time to deliver.

So next time you stumble across a note, don’t rush past it. Read it. Think about it. Let it sink in. You might just find that it was the most powerful moment in the entire game.

Final Thoughts: The Hidden Beauty of Lore Through Notes

Journals and notes are the unsung heroes of game storytelling. They’re optional — but man, are they impactful. They don’t scream for your attention, but when you stop to listen, they whisper stories that can hit harder than any cinematic.

They’re a bridge between gameplay and emotion, immersion and discovery. So grab that dusty old book in-game. Listen to that crackly voice recording. They’re not just filler content — they’re the heart and soul of the world you’re playing in.

Your next favorite story might be hidden in plain sight, waiting in a note you almost walked past.