Branching narratives for intercultural learning: Enhancing empathy and agency through gamified simulations

This study investigates how 180-degree interactive video simulations can foster intercultural competence in undergraduate communication students. Grounded in critical communication pedagogy, the simulation placed participants in a branching narrative depicting a conflict between two culturally diverse roommates. Students navigated decision points related to microaggressions and bystander behavior, allowing for ethical and emotional engagement. Focus group interviews were conducted with students in intercultural communication courses at a large public university. Thematic analysis revealed three key findings: students experienced deep emotional identification with characters, reflected on their own conflict styles, and challenged the simulation’s limited choices. These findings suggest that branching narratives can serve as powerful pedagogical tools, creating immersive, low-stakes environments for empathy-building, ethical reflection, and communication practice. The study contributes to critical communication pedagogy by illustrating how interactive storytelling can promote student-centered learning and help instructors address complex issues of cultural identity, power, agency, and responsiveness in diverse classroom settings.