Unlike modern RPGs with explicit dialogue trees, classic arcade machines handle skill-based narrative outcomes through implicit, systemic storytelling. The primary method is branching paths or endings. A player's performance—be it a high score, completion time, or survival against a boss—unlocks different levels or final sequences. For instance, in games like "Ninja Gaiden," superior skill leads to the true ending, while failure results in a truncated conclusion.

Another technique is dynamic difficulty adjustment. Machines like "Dragon's Lair" used laserdisc technology where player precision dictated which animation sequence played, creating a narrative of success or comical failure. The story wasn't chosen from a menu but performed through action.

Furthermore, environmental storytelling and short cutscenes served as rewards. Achieving a high score might trigger a special victory screen or a brief narrative epilogue, making the player's skill directly responsible for unveiling more of the game's world. Thus, the narrative was a reward, woven into the challenge itself.