Abstract

This study investigates the impact of information integration in immersive virtual reality (VR) narratives on user experience during cultural heritage revitalization. Within a self-developed VR system for Dunhuang murals, we integrated non-player character (NPC) information cards as auxiliary narrative tools to balance immersive experiences with effective information acquisition. A mixedmethods experiment involving 33 participants evaluated their effectiveness. We found that NPC information cards significantly enhanced users’ emotional states and self-efficacy, while mitigating VR Sickness. Although their direct contribution to knowledge acquisition and immersion was limited, they strengthened the emotional connection between users and the virtual environment, achieving a balance between autonomous exploration and systematic guidance. User feedback emphasized the need for instant and intuitive information, as well as the desire for comprehensive and highly task-oriented content. These findings expand the theoretical boundaries of VR narrative design and provide insights for designing user-friendly VR experience aids oriented towards cultural heritage.