Why I play RPGs for immersion instead of storytelling

Background

I’ve been gaming for a long time and noticed that most people in the RPG community think the whole point is creating stories together. Whether it’s D&D, Call of Cthulhu, or other games, everyone talks about “telling a story” and even the rulebooks push this idea now.

My Different Approach

Here’s the thing though - I’m not at the table to craft narratives. I want to live inside a fictional world and see what happens naturally.

When I play, I want to become my character completely. Not write about them or plan their journey, but actually BE them responding to whatever comes up. I don’t want control over the plot or to decide what’s around the corner. I just want a world that feels real and independent where my actions have genuine consequences.

Stories Happen Anyway

Sure, interesting stuff emerges from our sessions. But that’s like saying sports are about storytelling just because games create memorable moments. The story isn’t why I’m there - it’s a side effect of actually playing.

If my character falls in a pit and dies, that might make a good story later. But in the moment, I wasn’t thinking about narrative structure. I was just exploring and stuff happened.

The Real Issue

I’m not trying to stop anyone from playing story-focused games. Do what makes you happy! But I’m getting tired of people acting like my style is outdated or missing the point.

I don’t need special narrative rules or shared authorship. I just want to feel like I’m really inside the game world. That’s what makes RPGs magical for me.

What I’m Asking

Can we agree that not everyone plays for the same reasons? Some of us want world exploration and character immersion over collaborative storytelling. Both approaches are valid ways to enjoy this hobby.

You don’t have to play my way, but please don’t dismiss it as somehow wrong or incomplete.

This hits home hard. I’ve been in groups where everything felt fake because everyone was obsessed with creating the next cool story moment. I just wanted to hang out in the tavern, chat with NPCs, and stumble onto weird stuff. The world needs to feel bigger than our story - like it has real history and people living their lives whether we show up or not.

Same here. I love when the GM surprises me with consequences I never saw coming.

I totally relate to that. Some of my best RPG experiences came from just diving into the character and reacting naturally. Like that time my warrior rushed into battle even when it felt risky. It made the experience way more immersive.