The Impact of Evolving Character Customization on Emotional Engagement and Player Behaviour in RPGs

Abstract

This paper investigates how dynamic visual customization in role-playing games (RPGs), where a character's appearance evolves in response to narrative decisions and in-game events, affects player emotional engagement and behaviour. Using a mixed- methods case study of Baldur's Gate 3, the research combined discourse analysis of Reddit discussions, a survey (n = 149), and semi-structured interviews (n = 10). Findings show that dynamic customization strengthens emotional engagement by visually reinforcing narrative progression but rarely redirects player behaviour, instead reinforcing pre-established roleplay intentions. Players also engaged in manual dynamic customization to maintain visual coherence when game systems were insufficient, revealing a gap between player expectations and current design practices. This study reframes customization as a sustained narrative mechanism rather than a one-time aesthetic choice, demonstrating that evolving visual identity functions primarily to support player-constructed roleplay narratives rather than to redirect decision-making in character-driven games.