15 Nintendo Switch Games With The Best Storylines
Since gaming moved into the popular culture and no one is feeling shame any longer for their nerdy hobbies and geeky interests, the world of consoles and gaming has never been so popular. Adults are gaming without hesitancy and it is not only bridging that gap between generations but it is also motivating gaming companies to make video games that will appeal to all genders and ages.
Related: The Rarest Nintendo Switch Games (And How Much They’re Worth)
These games typically include in-depth, diverse, and well-developed storylines that players of all ages can find themselves easily and truly immersed in. Below we will discuss popular and beloved story-based games for the Nintendo Switch Console.
Updated April 7, 2022 by Nickolas «Saz» Davis: Five years after release, the Switch is going as strong as ever. The acclaimed exclusive titles just keep on coming, and there are many more just around the corner. Not all of the Nintendo Switch’s best stories are exclusive to the console, but every now and again they’re able to put out a story that’s sure to go down in the annals of gaming history. Stories with real emotional impact that add to a game’s atmosphere rather than just being an excuse for the game to be happening. With story-driven games like Bayonetta 3 and Breath Of The Wild 2 coming to the Switch very soon, the stories are only going to keep adding up.
15/15 Shin Megami Tensei V
Admittedly, Shin Megami Tensei V has one of the weaker stories of the games in the mainline franchise. That doesn’t mean the game’s story is bad though, simply that it’s standing next to games with some of the greatest stories in JRPG history. Shin Megami Tensei V is still a worthy entry to the series, with choices that will force the player to reflect on their choices on how they affect their judgments in real life as much as they do their decisions in the game.
14/15 Cuphead
In this surprisingly dark game, two adorable little cups must traverse multiple intense levels of gameplay in order to end their deal with the Devil by repaying the debt that they accrued during a misguided night of gambling.
Related: Best Nintendo Switch Games For Couples
During Cuphead, the protagonists must seek out those who have tried to evade deals with the devil in order to absolve their own debt. However, players should not expect the Devil to stay true to his word, and betraying him might be a better option in the end.
13/15 Kirby And The Forgotten Land
Kirby and the Forgotten Land has a surprisingly dark background for the generally light-hearted and brightly-colored franchise. It’s rare that a children’s game will have you sympathizing with the plight of the antagonists, but this game does just that. Kirby explores a land that was abandoned by most of its original inhabitants, and is forced to fight those who remain and simply seek the better life they were told is waiting for them somewhere else. Who told the Kirby game writers that they’re allowed to be this thought-provoking?
12/15 Octopath Traveler
In Octopath Traveler, players get the chance to explore the journeys of eight main heroes as they travel through the land in a task that culminates with the discovery of a cult, a missing dark text, and a thieving professor.
The stories of each and every one of the heroes become truly intermixed as the game progresses and a brief summary such as this one can barely do the game justice. It’s beautiful, both in terms of story and the game’s visual appeal, which blends pixelated sprites with backgrounds that look like painted canvasses.
11/15 Dragon Quest 11
Square Enix knows how to make a good game. Like many fantasy games, Dragon Quest 11 begins with a fantastical kingdom that is suddenly being invaded and occupied by monsters. The player is lost during the invasion and is found again by a lovely elder who raises them as their own.
Related: Dragon Quest: Best Games In The Franchise, Ranked (According To Metacritic)
Without spoiling too much of the plot, as it is a game that is entirely focused upon the story, the players’ true identity is made known and they must embark on a lengthy quest in order to save the world and those living within it.
10/15 Oninaki
Oninaki delights players with its deceptively cute art and graphics, which are in stark contrast to the darker tones and more serious storylines that the game delivers.
The player assumes the role of a Watcher, someone who protects the Cycle of Reincarnation. This includes guiding lost souls and defeating monsters with the help of certain spirits called Daemons. With a rising cult, the Night Devil on the prowl, and a rising sense of unanswered questions, it’s up to the player to discover the truth behind the world of Oninaki.
9/15 Xenoblade Chronicles 2
The game known as Xenoblade Chronicles 2 is a fantasy game whose plot is focused on the war/conflict between the countries which make up the fictional world of the game. The main characters live in a world known as Alrest and it is filled with a number of creatures who exist on all ends of the spectrum based on morality. There is a legend which tells of a Utopia existing atop the highest branches of the World Tree but no one can agree on the subject of who deserves to reach it first.
8/15 AI: The Somnium Files
AI: The Somnium Files is set in Tokyo in a not-too-distant future where Special Agent Kaname Date is on the trail of a serial killer.
Players are able to investigate crime with the use of «Psyncing», where you can probe the dreams of suspects and uncover clues and secrets.
With the technological marvel that is Psyncing, along with the help of his AI, Aiba, Date must investigate both the real and dream worlds to find the serial killer and put a stop to his crimes.
7/15 Astral Chain
Set in the future, Astral Chain presents a world where humanity is close to extinction and the remaining survivors have taken refuge in a city called «The Ark.» The people are under constant threat from strange interdimensional monsters called «Chimeras» who drag humans off to the Astral Plane. These chimeras infect humans and other creatures with red matter. The protagonist joins Neuron, a task force dedicated to defending the city. They use tamed chimeras called «Legions» in their battle to save mankind. It’s up to the player to save humanity while discovering the secrets of the Astral Plane.
6/15 The Legend Of Zelda: Breath Of The Wild
How many games can boast that their plots exceed the span of 10,000 years? At the start of it all, Zelda and Link defeat Ganon.
Then 9,900 years later, Ganon is back and has decided it would be fun to turn those tasked with guarding Hyrule against it. Zelda and Link were, again, able to protect everyone but Link needed a bit of a nap. Another 100 years later, he wakes up without a single clue of what has happened and learns that Ganon is, once again, trying to take over. Throughout The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, Link regains his memories and sets forth to seal away Ganon once again.
5/15 Hollow Knight
Hollow Knight is centered around the area known as Hallownest, where a little Wyrm convinces the bugs to abandon their idol and worship him instead. Things go well until the bugs begin to dream of the deity they abandoned and start to go mad as a result.
Related: Ranked: The Hardest Hollow Knight Bosses
The new ruler tried to channel the madness into a single being but is unsuccessful and the town falls into ruins. The player is tasked with curing/uncovering the source of the illness and the endings of the game will vary depending on their actions.
4/15 Fire Emblem: Three Houses
Fire Emblem returned in top form when the franchise made its comeback on the Nintendo Switch with Fire Emblem: Three Houses. This title has a brilliant story, following the protagonist Byleth as they try to maintain peace between three nations and unravel the mysteries of the past in the process. The story has four branching pathways with the player supporting a different house in each playthrough. Through these different pathways, you can gain new perspectives and even knew details about the story you may not have gotten on your initial playthrough.
3/15 The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt
Even if you haven’t played any of The Witcher series of games, it has become a household name, even more so after Netflix’s TV adaptation. The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt is undoubtedly the franchise’s strongest title, though they are all worth playing. Fortunately for Nintendo Switch owners, the complete edition made its way to the console, allowing a whole new host of gamers to enjoy its rich storyline.
Players take control of Geralt of Rivia while he searches for his young charge, Ciri, who is trying to outrun the Wild Hunt. Magic and mayhem combine for an unforgettable game.
2/15 Undertale
Though the fandom can be overwhelming at times, the Undertale game itself is a wonderful game that anyone who enjoys choice-based stories will love. In Undertale, you play as a small child who awakens in the world of monsters beneath a mountain. You must escape said world but in doing so, you will interact with a plethora of friendly and amusing characters in an «Alice in Wonderland»-style adventure. You will learn the reasons why the monsters are trapped underground, how they feel about their entrapment, and one monster’s plan to escape. It’s not just one of the best story games on Switch, it’s one of the best story games of the last decade, period.
1/15 Owlboy
Owlboy is a passion project in every sense of the word. D-Pad Studio spent nearly nine years on the game, and it shows in every minute detail and beautiful location.
The story feels like a Pixar movie in 2D. It’s something of a coming-of-age story with a young, mute, and accident-prone «Owlboy» named Otus who goes on an adventure to save his village. On the way, he (literally) picks up a lot of friends and discovers how powerful he truly is. If you’re not teared up by the end of Owlboy, then you must have no feelings at all.
Next: The Best Nintendo Switch Games For Kids And Families
The 15 Best Interactive Story Games on Nintendo Switch
As much as some folk may turn up their nose at the idea of games being considered art, you can experience some of the best stories to date in the form of a video game.
Interactive story games are powerful mediums for telling vivid tales, and there’s a mountain of them to pick from. Both indie developers and big corporations have tried their hand at story-driven games, and the amount of choice can be quite overwhelming.
In this article, I’ve picked out the 15 best interactive story games on Nintendo Switch.
A lot of them follow a visual novel format or focus predominantly on the story, but some contain more RPG and action elements too.
Please note that some of these games contain dark and upsetting themes. I’d recommend looking up trigger warnings where needed.
Night in the Woods
Night in the Woods is a sombre yet charming visual novel styled game with adventure elements and an intriguing storyline.
It has a coming-of-age theme, following the main character Mae Borowski as she returns to her hometown after dropping out of college. The game encourages you to explore and get to grips with Mae’s story, looking at why she left college and what happened in her past.
One of my biggest concerns when writing this article was keeping it spoiler free, and I’m not going to dive into the story any further as I implore you to try this game out for yourself.
It’s clear that a lot of love went into this game.The story is creative, with likeable characters and interesting environments.
The game looks beautiful, and has a solid performance on the Nintendo Switch with no notable issues.
There’s plenty of hidden elements to explore in this game, with mini games like a top-down rougelite game on Mae’s laptop and a rhythm game where Mae tries to remember how to play songs from her old band.
Night in the Woods is a must play for anyone who enjoys slice of life content and wants a game that feels fresh yet familiarly comforting to play through.
What Remains of Edith Finch
This game is dark, intriguing and truly emotional.
What Remains of Edith Finch is an eerie story that takes place in the Finch family home, cobbled together in the midst of a dark and foreboding forest. The game follows the melancholic story of the Finch family, peppered with gruesome deaths and dark secrets.
The house in this game is the predominant location for the entire story, which works wonderfully. The house feels alive, with each room telling a different story and meshing together with the others to tell its tragic tale.
The overarching feeling in this game is sorrow, and it’s not for the faint of heart. Some scenes are deeply upsetting and unsettling. In amidst the tragedy, there’s horror and some dark, unforgettably beautiful moments as well.
It’s worth noting that this is the style of game affectionately dubbed a ‘walking simulator’, so if you’re looking for anything other than a story, it’s not for you. Aside from a few technical quirks here and there, this game looks beautiful and plays decently.
Firewatch
This is one of the most memorable ‘walking simulator’ adventure games on the Nintendo Switch, and it’s absolutely worth taking a look at. This section contains a tiny spoiler, so skip ahead if you’re not keen.
In Firewatch, you play as Henry, who has just taken a job as a fire lookout in Shoshone National Forest in Wyoming. It’s a simple but emotional game that follows Henry as he tries to make peace with his demons and untangle the mysterious side of the forest.
There isn’t an overwhelming amount of interaction with other characters in this game, but the majority of the dialogue is had between Henry and another lookout, Delilah. They’re connected via walkie-talkies, and the acting performances are incredible to witness.
Visually, Firewatch looks great on the Nintendo Switch. It has certainly lost a little clarity on the console, but it plays well on the whole and creates a very immersive experience. There are no technical quirks or glitches, and the controls are intuitive too.
If you’re looking for an engaging story to lose yourself in, Firewatch is one of the best picks for you. The story is powerful, although it does have a divisive ending – so prepare for that.
Thimbleweed Park
This is one of the most interesting Nintendo Switch mystery games, and it has an incredibly compelling story. Reminiscent of shows like The X-Files and Twin Peaks, Thimbleweed Park is a quirky, eerie title with lots to offer.
This retro themed point-and-click game is a murder mystery title at its core, with plenty of twists and turns. You can play through as 5 different characters, with different levels of difficulty, and can even access the HintTron 3000 telephone service if you’re struggling.
I’ve included this game in this list as the story is vivid, detailed and quite confusing in places. The world is vibrant and the characters feel lifelike, with creative writing and plenty of silly quotes. The aesthetic matches the game perfectly, and it performs well on the Nintendo Switch.
If you’re looking for a linear, straight forward story, this is not the pick for you. It’s a twisty-turny game with a healthy dose of silliness. I’m a big fan of Thimbleweed Park and highly encourage you to check it out if you like mystery games and puzzles.
The Vanishing of Ethan Carter
This game is hard to categorize, but the intriguing story made it a must-have for this list. The Vanishing of Ethan Carter is often put in the category of a horror game, but I’d also put it as a mystery and a drama game, too.
You play through as Paul Prospero, a psychic detective who is on the hunt for the titular character Ethan Carter, a boy who reportedly has the same powers as him. You’ll need to piece the story together, finding clues and getting to know the world around you in more depth.
I’d describe this as a slow-burning game, and would even consider it more of a visual novel in places. It’s not an easy game by any means, but it does have a slower pace and feel to it.
Despite this being a port of an older game, The Vanishing of Ethan Carter looks beautiful and plays impeccably in both handheld or docked mode. The world feels alive and beautifully melancholic, with thoughtful environments and set pieces.
The Stanley Parable: Ultra Deluxe
The Stanley Parable: Ultra Deluxe is one of the most unique games on this list, and it’s one of the main games that I recommend to people no matter their preference in genre.
You play the game as Stanley, an office worker who spends his days inputting commands into a computer.
One day, the commands stop showing up and Stanley’s world flips upside down. Accompanied by a sarcastic narrator, you’re tasked with unravelling the mystery that is Stanley’s existence.
It’s a game with a lot of depth, with 40 potential endings. The game is very meta with its humor, poking fun at game design, gamers and the world as a whole. The writing is smart, and the dry delivery of each line from the narrator makes this game a unique experience.
If you enjoy movies like the Truman Show, you’ll love this game. It throws up a lot of existential questions and intriguing concepts, all while delivering funny lines and puzzles for the player to solve.
Valley
This short but sweet game is one of the most interesting indie titles on Switch right now, offering up bite-sized chunks of a beautiful and intriguing world.
In Valley, you play as an archaeologist who is heading into the Canadian Rockies via canoe, in order to find something called the Lifeseed.
Predictably, the canoe crashes and strands the player.
The story unfolds from there, introducing a narrative that features World War 2 experiments and local myths. Featuring an interesting combat exoskeleton suit called the L.E.A.F suit, the game picks up from there with plenty of puzzles and lore.
Valley is an intriguing game with a fascinating story and charming world. It’s certainly a lot deeper than it looks at first, and contains just enough challenge to keep things interesting as you progress through it.
Florence
Visual novels/interactive story games can raise a few questions about what defines an ‘actual game’ – and if you’re someone who scoffs at the idea of a purely story-based experience, Florence is not the game for you.
However, if you want a deeply beautiful and emotional experience akin to an indie movie that you’d see at a local festival, Florence is the game for you. It’s a very short game, but plays impeccably on the Switch with fantastic graphics and an entrancing soundtrack.
In Florence, you follow the aptly named Florence as she settles into her own skin, so to speak. It’s a coming of age story, complete with the joy and anxiety of new relationships and fresh starts, and the tangled mess that comes with figuring out where to go next in life.
There’s some incredibly clever mechanics in Florence, as with a lot of indie games that fit this style. It was originally a mobile game, and it suits the console nicely.
It’s a game that’s been made with a lot of love and attention to detail, and I implore you to take a chance on it. It’s a truly memorable experience.
The Walking Dead: The Complete First Season
There are heaps of great zombie games on the Nintendo Switch, but they don’t all contain an engaging story. The Walking Dead: The Complete First Season is a shining example of how the gritty zombie genre can meet deeply powerful, emotive writing.
In this game, you play as Lee, a former professor. He starts off in the back of a cop car on his way to jail for murder.
As he’s being transported, the zombie apocalypse breaks out around him. He ends up caring for a girl named Clementine who has lost her parents, and the story unfolds from there.
The story in this game is intriguing, and it pairs perfectly with the high quality voice acting and graphics. This game is a visual delight, and it plays very well on the Nintendo Switch as well.
Even if you’re not usually a fan of zombies or horror games, I would still suggest trying this game out. It’s powerful and emotional, with intuitive controls and a great user experience. It’s one of my favorites on this list.
Return of the Obra Dinn
If you’re interested in mystery, Return of the Obra Dinn is one of the most interesting story-centric titles that you need to check out today.
Taking place in the 1800s, this game follows the story of a merchant ship which vanished at sea for 6 months before returning to port with a horde of corpses and a rich mystery to unravel. You play as an insurance agent, and you’re tasked with figuring out what happened on the Obra Dinn.
This game requires more thought and problem-solving than the majority of games on this list, and it’s ideal for seasoned mystery fans. There’s certainly a steep level of difficulty here, so if you’re looking for something more laidback then this is not the title for you.
Return of the Obra Dinn is a truly beautiful game, with 1-bit graphics and an interesting visual layout. It plays well on the Switch and the story is utterly compelling. It’s one of the first mystery games I ever played, and it’s stuck with me ever since. I highly recommend checking it out.
Famicom Detective Club: The Girl Who Stands Behind
If you’re somewhat of a Nintendo geek or a fan of horror-themed visual novels, chances are that you’ve heard of the Famicon Detective Club games before.
Famicon Detective Club: The Girl Who Stands Behind is a chilling, intriguing addition to the world of horror games on the Nintendo Switch. It follows the story of a supernatural school rumour, including everything from murder to blood-soaked ghost girls.
This game is heavily tied to another title, called Famicon Detective Club: The Missing Heir and I considered adding that one into this list as well. This game won out, though, for the creative writing style and interesting characters that you meet throughout the story.
With simple controls and decent graphics, this game plays well on the Nintendo Switch and presents an enjoyable user experience. If you’re a fan of solving mysteries and playing through visual novel games, this is the pick for you.
The Great Ace Attorney Chronicles
The Ace Attorney games are charming and intriguing, with a style of play that falls in between a visual novel, point-and-click game and an adventure title.
The Great Ace Attorney Chronicles takes place in Meji-era Japan and Victorian England. The game follows Ryunosuke Naruhodo, the ancestor of fan favorite Phoenix Wright, and puts the player in charge of unravelling mysteries, solving crimes and working with Herlock Sholmes.
This title is a mystery game at its core, and some of the solutions to mysteries in a case can be a little frustrating in places.
It’s incredibly satisfying to find the right answers, though, and there’s a real sense of progression to this game.
It’s clear that a lot of work went into The Great Ace Attorney Chronicles, with heaps of historical research and smart puzzles to sink your teeth into.
The game looks great on the Switch and performs well too, and I’d suggest checking it out if you’re looking for a mystery game to get to the bottom of.
Tales from the Borderlands
Borderlands is a legendary franchise with a handful of truly iconic games that are worth sitting down and playing through. This game is simply one of the best in terms of writing, creativity and character development.
In this game, you follow con artist Fiona and arrogant Hyperion rep Rhys as they chase after a vault key that will help them get their hands on a legendary treasure known as the Vault of the Traveller. This vault has the tendency to teleport around the world at will, which as you can imagine, makes it difficult to find.
Split up into episodes like the aforementioned Walking Dead game, this title is a delight to sit through. The writing is creative and each choice that you make feels impactful. The overall aesthetic is great, and there are no notable performance issues or quirks either.
Complete with some fantastic voice acting and a heap of groan-inducing puns, this is a title that I highly recommend checking out. It’s more hands-on than a lot of the games featured in this list, but still accessible and enjoyable for gamers of all skill levels.
Life is Strange: True Colors
Life is Strange is a series that has developed a reputation for thoughtful writing, interesting characters and beautiful environments. This game continues that trend perfectly, presenting a well made and beautiful experience for gamers to sit through.
You play through as Alex, who discovers that she’s got a unique ability to sense intense emotions in others. Alex has just left the foster care system and arrives in the sleepy town of Haven Springs to spend time with her brother.
The story unfolds from there, involving everything from a murder mystery to potential romance.
This is a relaxing and well-written game where your choices as a player feel impactful. Alex’s powers to sense emotions, take them on and read minds are very interesting, and they add to the overall story nicely.
While the character design and environments are great, they don’t look very polished and the gameplay isn’t always smooth. There are no game-breaking issues, but it’s worth noting regardless. Other than that, the controls are intuitive and there’s a fantastic soundtrack to go along with the game.
If you can look past the slightly clunky visuals, this is a game that’s really worth experiencing for yourself. It’s immersive and enjoyable, with thoughtful writing and a host of vibrant characters dotted throughout the story.
Sumire
Sumire is a beautiful yet tragic game. It deals with grief, which seems to be a common theme for interactive story games on the Nintendo Switch, and it handles the topic in a sensitive and relatable manner.
In this title, you play as Sumire who is dealing with her parents getting a divorce and her Grandmother dying. After her Grandmother’s death, Sumire experiences odd dreams and ends up finding a mysterious glowing seed that then, naturally, turns into a talking flower.
From there, the world unfolds around Sumire and she can talk to the objects and people around her to gain interesting quests and bits of lore. The game is simple but the inner world is very beautiful, and there’s plenty of interesting puzzles to keep you busy.
Sumire’s charm comes from the intricate artwork and the beautiful soundtrack. No matter if you’re playing in docked or handheld mode, this is a game that performs very well and looks fantastic on the Nintendo Switch.
The music is particularly beautiful, and fits the aesthetic well.
Other than a few minor quirks like spelling mistakes, this game is a gem and is worth experiencing for yourself.
The Complete Guide to Instagram Stories
Instagram Stories, aka “stories”, “moments”, “stories” or “stories” appeared in 2016, and since then have gained such popularity that Instagram is constantly updating and improving this format.
Instagram Stories appeared thanks to the growing popularity of Snapchat, in which users could send short videos and photos.
Now more than 400 million Instagram users view Stories per day, and this figure continues to grow.
Any content on Instagram can be seen by all users — profile posts and “stories” — this is a very promising media format, moreover, stories are integrated with Facebook, and users can view them from the feed of this social network.
Stories can only be viewed for 24 hours, after which they disappear from the feed and are stored in an archive accessible only to the user. The time of one video clip is no more than 15 seconds.
“Stories” are actively used for advertising, personal brand and business promotion. They help the brand to remind about itself, attract a new audience, talk about promotions and new products. Stories is like your own TV channel.
How to view stories on Instagram?
Instagram Stories appear at the top of the app, to view stories, just click on the profile photo.
Stories are rewound with a single tap on the phone screen: on the right — fast forward, on the left — back. Stories are paused by long pressing the screen — this is usually used to read long texts.
To switch stories, swipe from right to left or vice versa.
How to make stories on Instagram
You can create stories through Instagram or third-party applications, upload photos and videos from your computer after editing them. We will tell you about all the ways to create and upload stories.
To add previously captured videos and photos to stories, you need to switch to the Stories shooting mode, click on the leftmost button to go to the gallery, and select the necessary files. Thus, you can shoot stories not only with the camera from the application, but also with any available phone camera that you use.
How to make a story on Instagram?
Instagram allows you to capture and edit your Stories directly from the app.
To create a Story, click the camera icon in the top left corner of the app, or open the camera by swiping right.
Instagram camera has several modes and features. Let’s get to know each of them.
As soon as you switch to creating stories, the normal camera mode turns on. One short press on the central round button creates a photo, a long press — a video that lasts 15 seconds. If you hold the button and move it up, the camera will move closer to the object.
Below the photo and video button is a menu with other camera modes.
Boomerang
Boomerang is an analogue of live photos, that is, short looped videos made up of a series of photos. Frames taken one after another are played from beginning to end and in reverse order. Boomerangs are not as popular now as they were when they appeared, but users still love to make short videos and come up with new ideas.
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Superzoom
Superzoom allows you to shoot dramatic 3-second video music using a special camera close to the subject.
Instagram gives you the opportunity to choose several shooting options, from romantic to tragic. It remains only to choose the right one.
Reverse Capture
Reverse Capture creates videos with reverse playback, so you can diversify your content with an interesting idea.
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Shooting one video will last 15 seconds.
Text
Text — a mode that allows you to insert text information into stories. There are several font options: modern, neon, typewriter, bold. Fonts are switched by touching the font name at the top of the screen. You can change the background color by touching the button with the current color on the bottom left.
Live
Live allows you to broadcast stories in real time, communicate with subscribers and get instant feedback.
The live broadcast cannot last more than one hour, and users see the comments and likes coming at this time on the screen with the broadcast.
Starting a live broadcast is very easy. It is enough to select the desired mode, and the “On Air” button will appear. Subscribers who are currently online (they can be seen live) will receive a notification when the broadcast begins.
During the live broadcast, you can write a comment and pin it on the screen. You can turn off the ability to comment for everyone by clicking on the menu item and selecting “Turn off comments”. Live broadcast allows you to broadcast together with another user.
To end the broadcast, you must click “End” and confirm the action. By clicking the «Save» button, you will download the live broadcast without likes and comments. This function is made so that the video material is not lost. The live broadcast can be seen on Instagram in the recording for another 24 hours, like regular stories.
Remember: if you don’t save the live broadcast, it will be deleted after 24 hours and you won’t be able to restore it.
Instagram masks
Another feature of stories is adding masks. Masks are virtual face filters that make Stories even more colorful and funny.
Masks are available in almost all shooting modes. Just click on the smiley to the right of the record button and select the appropriate one. Masks can change along with the rotation of the camera, the surrounding space or the user’s facial expressions.
How to repost stories on Instagram?
You can publish your posts from your Instagram profile to Stories to attract more attention to them. To do this, you need to click on the airplane icon under the post and select “Add to story”.
You can repost the story itself from another person’s profile if your account is tagged in it. When this happens, you will receive a notification in private messages about the mention in the story, there is also an active link “Add this to the story”.
After clicking on the link, a window with editing stories will open.
How to edit stories on Instagram?
Once you’ve shot your story, it’s time to edit it. Editing is available for both photos and videos.
How to add filters to Instagram?
To view and apply filters, swipe left and select your favorite.
How to add hashtags to Instagram Stories?
A hashtag is a special label that combines user content into one group. On Instagram, hashtags are used not only as a means of navigation and search, but also for promotion. We can say that hashtags are the keywords of your post, story and Instagram profile.
There are several ways to add hashtags to stories.
The first way: click on the sticker icon at the top of the screen and select “#Hashtag”. In this case, you need to enter the hashtag without the pound sign #, Instagram will offer several popular or frequently used hashtags.
Second way: enter the hashtag using the Text tool. In this case, you must enter along with the hashtag #, and Instagram will also offer to select popular or frequently used hashtags.
Some users use tricks to insert more hashtags into stories. They use two methods at once, write more hashtags in text, hide hashtags in a poorly viewed area of the screen (at the very bottom or top of the story), fill the text with a hashtag with a background color so that they are not visible to users and do not annoy when viewing.
These hashtags are also included in Instagram searches.
On Onlypult.com, when publishing stories, you can insert up to 9hashtags, while they are not visible in the story itself, but participate in the Instagram search.
How to geotag Instagram?
Instagram geotags are also used to promote and search for publications.
Geotags or geotags are data about a specific position that are affixed to a frame as metadata.
Inserting a geotag into an Instagram story is very easy. Just click on the sticker icon and select . Choose from the proposed list or start typing the name of the location.
How to tag a person in an Instagram story?
To mark another Instagram profile in your story, you need to select the “Text” tool and enter the user’s nickname, starting with the @ symbol. In this way, you can enter up to 10 profiles in one History. If you click on the sticker and select “Mention” from the menu that appears, you can add one profile without using the @ symbol.
In both cases, Instagram will prompt you to select a profile corresponding to the characters you enter, it remains to choose the one you need.
The user will be notified that they have been mentioned. He will not be able to remove the mark, but it will be possible to share this Story in his account.
After affixing such a mark, subscribers will be able to go to the specified profile by clicking on it in the story.
How to insert a link in an Instagram story?
This feature is available only to business accounts with more than 10,000 subscribers. A few days after reaching the required threshold, a link button appears at the top of the screen in the interface for adding stories.
With this tool, discounts and promotions are announced, Instagram users are directed to the site or a separate page of the site, links are added to blog articles, online and offline events, and so on.
By clicking on the button, enter the desired link and create a story. When viewing your Story, users only need to swipe up to follow the link.
If after reaching 10,000 followers the link button still does not appear, try restarting your phone or updating the app, you can also contact Instagram support.
How to draw on Instagram stories?
Instagram Stories has a drawing tool. To use it, you need to click on the pencil icon at the top of the screen.
Several modes or brushes are available for painting. They differ in overlay style and line thickness.
Use the drawing tool to fill a photo with a solid color. Just select the desired color at the bottom of the screen and pinch the photo anywhere.
To fill with a translucent solid tone, choose a brush with a thick nib or a “marker”.
There is another secret to this tool. You can choose not only the standard colors indicated in the palette. If you press and hold the colors of the palette, a panel with a choice of an arbitrary color will appear. Without lifting your finger from the screen, move to the desired color to select.
How to add a selfie to Instagram stories?
You can add a selfie to the finished photo or video. To do this, click on the camera sticker. If you click on the finished selfie, the design will change: blurry edges or a white frame.
What else to add to stories?
Questions.
A form is attached to the story in which you can enter your question.
Subscribers will be able to ask you any questions.
To insert a form, select the “Questions” widget while editing stories. You can choose the color and size of the published form.
Enter your appeal in the form. For example, “I will answer your questions. Ask!».
Responses can be viewed by clicking in the lower left corner in the story. You can share responses with subscribers, to do this, open the desired response and click «Share response». You can choose the color of the form, add a comment and publish to stories.
Polls
The «Polls» widget allows you to conduct a small survey among subscribers, where only two answers are available. The standard form is “Yes” and “No”, but you can enter your own question and short answers. After the survey is published, you will see the responses as a percentage.
In the story statistics, you can see which user clicked on which answer, and the total number of viewed stories.
Voting
Voting in stories is done using a scale. By selecting the appropriate widget, you can assign the color of the scale and emoji for the answer. Ask a question, and to answer it, subscribers will move the slider, expressing the degree of their reaction to the question.
Statistics will show exactly how users voted, as well as the average answer on the scale.
Quiz
This widget is also called “Test” because you enter the correct answer, and users, having chosen an option, immediately see whether it is correct or not.
To insert a widget, click on the sticker icons and select «Quiz» in the story. In the form that appears, you can enter your question and several answers.
There can only be four answers. Enter the answers in order and press “Next” on the phone keypad for new options to appear next.
The color is changed using the setting at the top of the screen.
Do not forget to indicate the correct answer. To do this, click on the letter of one of the options, it will be highlighted in green.
To see user responses, go to your story statistics or swipe up. You will see the number of correct and incorrect answers, as well as the total number of viewed stories.
How to add music to Instagram stories?
Adding music to Stories has been available since 2018, but not in all countries. Therefore, if it is not possible to add music directly through Instagram, you need to use third-party applications. But we will tell you about all the ways.
How to add music through the Instagram app?
If you can add music through the Instagram app, click on the sticker icon and select “Music” from the menu.
The application has a search by mood, genre and popularity. After selecting a song, you can rewind to the desired moment, and the track will be played from a given point while the story continues.
You can add a track before selecting a video. Open the camera, swipe the menu under the record button to the right and select «Music». Find the song and the right moment, and record a video while the song is playing.
How to add music to Instagram?
If there is no choice of music in the Instagram application, it is possible to add it to the story through third-party video editors.
You can download the video editor from the App Store or Google Play, here are some of them:
Storybeat — allows you to add not only music, but also small effects on photos and videos, you can record your voice or slow down the video.
InShot — can remove unwanted frames, suppress noise, add text and stickers. Music is added only from the device library.
PicMusic — photo and video editor, you can add music, voice, text.
How to publish a story on Instagram
When a story is ready and edited, it can be published.
To do this, just click the “Your story” button in the lower left corner, and the story will be published on your profile and will be available to everyone.
You can limit your viewers by clicking the «Best Friends» button when posting. Then only those whom you add to your friends list will see the Story.
Stories can be sent to selected contacts if you click on the «Publish» button and select the desired profiles.
Within 24 hours, while the published History is available, it can be deleted, edited and adjusted.
To do this, click on the three dots in the lower right corner and select the desired menu item.
To customize your story, select «Story Settings». By moving the sliders and checking the checkboxes, you can customize the display of stories for yourself. Here you can hide Stories from certain accounts, allow or block comments on stories, and create a list of best friends.
You can post multiple stories at the same time. To do this, select the story camera and click on the gallery icon.
The latest photos and videos taken by the device will be shown. Click the pages icon at the top right and select all the photos and videos you want in the order in which they should be posted. Each story can be edited before publication.
To publish stories from a computer, you need to use third-party services. For example, the Onlypult.com deferred posting service, with which you can select the date and time of publication.
Go to the service website, click «Stories», edit the publication card and set the time. Ready!
How to delete stories on Instagram?
Already published stories can be deleted. To do this, you need to open the Stories and at the moment the unnecessary file is displayed, click “More” in the lower right corner. When the additional menu of stories comes out, click “Delete” and confirm the deletion.
To delete the entire history, you must delete each file in it.
Actual stories on Instagram
Stories Highlights or Actual Stories — albums or sections with archived Stories that users can save in their profile.
Thus, all saved stories can be sorted or the main ones can be selected — as it is more convenient for anyone.
How to add stories to the Topical?
Actual stories you create yourself. They will appear on your profile above your photos. You can add to Topical those stories that have already been published. To do this, in the profile, click on the plus sign “+”, select the desired stories and click “Next”. Give a name to the new collection of «Actual», select the cover (initially it will be one of the stories) and click «Done».
Here you can save promotions, portfolios, products, case studies, workshops and much more. This will make it easier to navigate through your account and allow you to highlight the information you need.
When creating Actual Stories, it is important to remember:
- The title of the section with Actual Stories cannot be more than 16 characters;
- In order for stories to be added to Highlights, it is necessary to enable saving stories to archive in the settings;
- you can create any number of stories, but the last 4 will be visible in the profile without scrolling;
- One story can be added to several sections.
How to make icons for relevant Stories?
For the latest, you can create and upload your own icons. This will emphasize individuality.
There are several ways to create a story icon.
The easiest option is to use a pre-made Story and select it as the cover.
Click on the “+” in the Instagram profile, select the necessary stories and click “Next”. After that, give a name to the new album and click «Edit Cover». In this step, you can choose any story for the cover, zoom in or out, or select a specific part of the photo.
Click «Done» and your new album will appear on your profile.
Another way to create an icon is to make it in third-party applications and services. For example, in Canva or Photoshop. It is better to create regular square images, where the icon will be located in the center. The optimal image resolution is 1080×1080 pixels.
The finished picture can be uploaded as a story and selected as a cover according to an already known option.
Or, when editing a cover in Actual, click on the gallery icon and select from phone files.
To insert a cover into an already created album, you need to open it through your Instagram profile. In the lower right corner, click on the three dots with the words “More”, and then “Edit current”.
Click “Edit Cover” and select the desired icon.
How to view Instagram story statistics?
Stories statistics can be viewed by connecting a business account.
To view statistics, go to your Instagram profile, click on the menu icon in the upper right corner and select «Statistics». You will have access to account statistics and publications.
The “Stories” section displays statistics of stories posted in the last 24 hours. But you can find out the statistics of publications made in the last 14 days. To do this, click «All» in the «Stories» section.
In the filter above statistics, you can switch data and view statistics on impressions, reach, clicks, scrolls, responses, and so on.
Impressions — the total number of views of stories.
Reach is the number of people who viewed your stories. Impressions for the same account do not count here.
Scroll forward and backward — how many times users have moved to your next post or returned to the previous one. So you can understand whether the audience was interested or not, they were intrigued by the continuation of the viewing, they understood what you wanted to tell in the story.
Next story — transitions to the stories of other accounts. The data shows how many people moved from your story to the next without being interested in the content.
Exits — shows how many times users clicked the cross to exit your Story.
Replies — how many people have responded to your stories.
Reposts — how many other accounts reposted your story.
Clicks on the link — how many people followed the link published in the story.
Stories statistics provide detailed metrics and help you determine how engaged your viewers are when viewing Stories.
Useful
Where can I find ready-made templates and layouts for Instagram Stories?
Instagram stories can be created on third-party resources and use not only the standard tools that Instagram offers.
Here are a few services where you can create stories from ready-made templates, upload your photos or use ready-made backgrounds and fonts:
Easil is a platform with a number of ready-made templates that you can change. Templates already have the correct dimensions for stories, but in the paid version it is possible to change them.
Another popular platform for creating marketing materials, including Instagram Stories, is Canva. All templates you create will be stored on the platform and you can download them at any time.
Answers to questions about Instagram Stories
Is the list of viewed Stories displayed in order?
Instagram uses different ranking methods, and users sort differently.
Moreover, it can change every few months. Therefore, for some users, lists can be shown by viewing time, for others by the frequency of interaction with the profile, and so on.
How is the list of unviewed Stories formed?
Usually shows actual stories made in the last 4 hours. Then they are mixed with the earlier ones. But Instagram pays more attention to real people, so the stories of ordinary accounts are shown first, and then commercial or impersonal ones.
Viewing History will count as a profile visit?
No. According to Instagram, visits are the number of clicks on a username to go to a profile.
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Instagram Stories: how to use Stories
TADAAAAAAM! Instagram has started telling stories! Seriously, the “stories” function appeared — it is also “stories”, “stories”, “moments” or “stories”. This is a direct inclusion in the form of a photo or video that you can add to your friends’ feed, while it will not appear in your account.
This means that you no longer have to «lick» your photos, adjusting the light and selecting the composition. Thanks to stories on Instagram, you can upload any trash — anyway, its lifespan is only a day.
Some people hate this innovation, others like it. I belong to the latter and I think that if you don’t like stories, you simply don’t know how to use them!
How to make Instagram stories and what they can do
Learn everything you need to know about Instagram Stories to boost your account and your followers! Watch the recording of webinar at link .
Where to look for Stories?
The most important question: “Stories – where are they?”. And this is in the feed of your friends. An additional strip with avatars appeared at the very top. If there is a red circle around the avatar, then there are new “stories” there. Your avatar will come first. If you don’t have stories, then a blue plus sign will “burn” on the avatar.
In this case, you can create a new story by clicking on your profile picture.
By clicking on the avatar in this feed, you will be taken to the «stories» section, where the stories will change automatically, you do not need to do anything for this. If you have already seen some stories, playback will start with new stories.
In addition, if you go to someone’s profile and see that their avatar is circled in red, it means that there are relevant stories there! You can click on the avatar and immediately see them.
How to add your story?
To create your own story, you need to go to your friends feed and click on the camera icon at the top left. If you need to post another story, you need to click on the camera icon again. Published stories will line up in order automatically.
Your camera will turn on. The camera can be switched from normal to front and back by double-tapping the screen or by clicking on the circle of arrows at the bottom right.
To take a photo, you need to press the white button at the bottom center of the screen once. To take a video, you need to press and hold the same button. When recording starts, a colored bar will “run” around this white button.
Video can be zoomed in and out. To do this, without lifting your finger from the screen, swipe up (the zoom will work for the approach), and then down (and the picture will move away again).
In November 2016, it became possible to shoot through boomerang directly in stories. Boomerang is the official Instagram app that creates looped little videos. In the livejournal era, it was called «gifs».
It’s also possible to shoot video without holding down the record button. For this, the option «free hands» appeared.
I personally hope that «hands free» is a harbinger of the launch of live broadcasts in Russia.
On New Year’s Eve 2017, stickers and additional markers (imitating striped New Year’s candies) appeared in stories.
Sticker design can be changed. Perhaps, similar bonuses will appear for other holidays.
You can also save stories to your phone without sharing them. Save along with captions, drawings and emoticons that you add to the photo. And then this saved photo can be added to your account (if you want, of course). To save stories, click on the small arrow at the bottom left.
To publish a story, click on the plus sign «Your story» at the bottom left.
And to send a story in direct to a friend (or group of friends) — on the white button with an arrow at the bottom right.
Stories sent to Direct are self-deleting over time.
How do I add an old photo to stories?
You can upload any photo, screenshot or video from your gallery to stories, provided that they were taken no later than 24 hours ago.
UPD since November 2017, you can add any photo from the gallery to stories, without reference to 24 hours.
To do this, also enter the history creation mode. Your camera will turn on. Swipe up or down on the screen and a field with pictures from your gallery in the last 24 hours will appear. Select the desired frame, click on it and work as with a normal picture.
How to glue stories together?
No glue required. You are just adding one story. Then another one. Then more. And they themselves line up and switch when they are watched.
If you’re working with video, be careful not to upload a new video until the old one is completely uploaded. Otherwise, the videos may load at different times and the order will be messed up.
How to add a filter?
Yes, you can use a filter in stories. To do this, swipe your finger across the screen from right to left, the filters will change. Works with both photos and videos.
How to add an inscription to stories?
Surprisingly, the trend with texts on Instagram has spread to stories./cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/10329917/jbareham_180301_2346_nintendo_switch_0065_zelda.jpg)
As a spontaneous poll in my account showed, users like photos with text more than just pictures. Even for a photo in stories, I want to get some kind of story and explanation.
Thankfully, you can add text to photos, videos, and even clips from the Boomerang app. To do this, click on «Aa» at the top right. You will have a keyboard, cursor and palette with colors. If you double-click on the desired color, a palette of shades will open.
Ready text can be enlarged or reduced. To do this, tap the screen with two fingers, and then pinch (to make text smaller) or spread them apart (to make it bigger). Also, by touching, you can drag the text anywhere on the screen or change its slope.
How to add a link to stories?
In November 2016, it became possible to add links to Instagram accounts to stories. When you click on @noneaccount, a pop-up icon appears that you can click on and go to the account.
Android cannot link to itself.
And many of those you don’t follow. Subscribe — and you can put an active link to your account.
When someone tags you in stories, you will receive a notification in direct.
How to draw in stories?
There are 3 markers in stories: thin, wide and tinted along the outline. They can draw, write or create a «background» for text. So, for example, if your photo has such a palette that the font of any color is hard to read, you can create a background with a marker and place text on it for more contrast. After selecting a marker, just slide your finger across the screen and it will draw.
How to fill in stories?
The entire background in stories can be filled with a colored background. To do this, select the marker tool, select a color, press and hold your finger on the screen.
To make the background of the text (like dark pink in the picture), while writing the text, press the A icon in the square in the center of the screen.
When you click on this icon, the text has a background. One click — dark background, two — light, three — cancel the background.
How to pause stories and read long text?
There is a PAUSE in stories! If your photo or video has long text that you don’t have time to read, or if you want to see details, just tap and hold your finger. A pause will work and you will be able to read a long text even by syllables.
How do I view the previous or next story?
You can control how quickly stories change and you can return to the previous one. To do this, tap on the right side of the screen (to switch to the next story) or on the left (to return to the previous one).
How to answer the story?
Stories are not a post, you can’t like or comment on them. You send the answer to the story to the direct to its author.
To reply to a story, you need to click on the «Send message» button in the lower left corner.
If this button is not present, then the user has disabled the ability to respond to his stories. This can be done in the profile settings.
How to view stories from a computer?
Stories can be viewed (and made) from a computer. To do this, install the Instagram application on the computer .
The installed application looks the same as the usual Instagram. With it, you can watch the feed, write comments, communicate in direct, see your saved photos and launch stories. You can even watch live!
You can also install the Chrome browser extension — Chrome IG Story . With it, you can watch and download stories and live broadcasts, as well as see the pinned stories in your account.
How to run ads in stories?
Ads appeared in stories, they appear automatically when you view friends’ stories. It looks like this:
You can launch your advertisement through targeted official advertising , choosing Instagram as the placement — stories.
Video instruction on how to run ads in Instagram Stories:
How to add a geotag and a hashtag to a story
You can add a geotag (geotag) and a hashtag to an image in a story. They are in the sticker section.
When clicking on the added sticker of a geopoint or hashtag, a person will go to a page with other photos marked with the same geo- and hashtags.
Only 1 geopoint sticker and 1 hashtag sticker can be added. But you can add more hashtags if you just write them in text.
When you click on the added geopoint or hashtag sticker, the person goes to a page with other photos marked with these tags.
In addition, geo-tagged stories are displayed in the «Popular» section.
But I see the only point in using hashtags in stories is to PR my category tags .
Video instruction on how to add a hashtag and geotag to stories:
How to add a link to stories
When creating a story, there is a link icon (such as paper clips) on the panel with markers and stickers. If you click on it, a window for adding a link opens. In the URL field, you need to paste the link previously copied from the browser.
The link will appear at the bottom of the story and look like the word «More» with an arrow. When a person clicks on this word, he will follow the link.
An important nuance: the word «More» is written in white. If you have a white background at the bottom of the picture, then the link will be very difficult to see.
When creating stories, draw a contrasting background in this place with a marker.
How to add a link to stories (video instruction):
At the moment, accounts with more than 10,000 subscribers can add a link to stories.
How to add a poll to stories
the function of adding a poll to stories. To add a poll to your story, you need to go to the stickers section.
If you don’t see the desired sticker, try switching the camera from front to normal and back. Should help.
In the statistics you can see the number of voters, the leading options and who voted for what.
And here is the video. I hope now it will become completely clear how to add polls to stories:
And in this article you will find 15 ideas on how to use pinned stories on Instagram .
What do you need stories for?
I think stories are really cool because they solve a lot of problems. Namely:
Reportage
If you are at some event, exhibition or fair and want to share what is happening, but the quality of the photo is so-so — report in stories! This way you both demonstrate your rich cultural life, and do not spam in your account, and besides, you do not spoil the style of your profile.
Solid pluses!
Announcement
If you want to talk about the fact that you have new items on your site, or a new blog article, or you are finishing a book about which you will write a post soon, or you are planning a contest, then you can do it post, or maybe stories.
Such announcements are often deleted from the account after some time. Stories will self-delete in a day. And again, no need to waste time building a beautiful frame and writing a post — just uploaded a story and it appeared on everyone at the very top of their feeds.
This option is great for drawing extra attention to your new post or for breaking news, for example, if you invite your readers to Periscope right now or you are on TV right now and you need to turn it on soon.
Reminder, temporary post
Many bloggers publish temporary posts. They write just like that at the very beginning: “Temporary post! Then I’ll delete it! It can be a post about a suddenly canceled order, some kind of question for the audience, or something else.
So stories — this is a temporary post. In addition, before your temporary post published in your account, you will still need to scroll through the feed, and stories — here they are, at the very top, in front of your eyes.
Also, stories work great for reminders. If you are holding a draw on Instagram , then you will probably have to remind yourself of this several times in your account — after all, someone could have missed the poster with the announcement and rules. Thanks to stories, you can remind about your contest, and such a temporary post will self-delete in a day. Remind me every day!
Reminder about yourself
If you have a blues, blockage, creative block or other reasons for not posting in your account, you can publish stories and remind subscribers about yourself.
What’s wrong with Stories?
I personally and many other bloggers in stories lack feedback. There are no likes, no comments, no discussions.
