Video gaming has become a multi-billion dollar industry that continues to capture the hearts, minds and pocketbooks of millions of gamers who span all ages. Narrative and interactive games form part of this market. The popularity of tablet computers and the technological advances of video games have led to a renaissance in the genre for both youth and adult audiences. Understanding the resurgence in this aspect of the market would be the topic for a useful academic endeavor, but exploring the bases for the interest in this aspect of technology can not only satisfy academic curiosity, but also lead to expansion of the overall industry. The goal of the research is to provide an explanation and framework of what makes some interactive narratives more successful than others. This was done by identifying the common story elements and writing strategies that are used to make digital interactive stories enjoyable and satisfying to participants. This research can potentially be a valuable tool for studios entering the interactive storytelling space because it will provide writers with a general outline of the key success factors required to design a compelling game and story. The paper analyzes selected interactive narrative video games in order to provide an explanation and framework of what makes them successful. The research questions addressed are: (1) What are the common storytelling elements present in successful games? (2) Why do these help to ensure a satisfying experience?