This paper presents a new approach to the understanding of gamification within the context of local news, foregrounding the varied ways that games and interactable narratives engage player/readers through increased interactability, relationship-building and dynamic storytelling. The research extends a model of Self Determination Theory and applies it to game play as a way to develop news content and build relationships among readers/players. This approach provides a foundation for the development of a new kind of local digital news-service where readers are given more possibilities to interact with the non-fiction narratives of news stories, allowing them to transform and grow over time and to build more personalized connections to news content.