Title
Portraying Mental Illness in Video Games: Exploratory Case Studies for Improving Interactive Depictions
Department/School
Emerging Media
Date
2020
Document Type
Article
Keywords
video games, mental illness, interactivity, analysis, mechanics, design
DOI
DOI: 10.7202/1071449ar
Abstract
This exploratory study examines three video games as case studies for how video games may portray mental illness through interactive, non-narrative design features. The analysis not only reports findings but also offers an evaluation for how video games might improve in how they depict mental illness. The games studied are What Remains of Edith Finch, Hellblade: Senua’s Sacrifice, and Doki Doki Literature Club. The analysis identifies how these games use audiovisual styles, control systems, game goals, and procedurality to portray mental illness. A report of the discovered themes precedes a discussion of innovations and weaknesses of those depictions of mental illness.
Published in
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Citation/Other Information
Anderson, S.L. (2020). Portraying Mental Illness in Video Games: Exploratory Case Studies for Improving Interactive Depictions. Loading, 13(21), 20-33. https://doi.org/10.7202/1071449ar