Category: Game Research Highlights

Games for Change: Can Video Games Promote Mental Health (Literacy)?

Why are so many video games about conspiracies?

“Hidden Monsters” by Lars de Wildt has the answers…

When Psychology Meets Game Design - The Case of Celeste

This text explores how Celeste combines psychology and game design to make struggle feel meaningful. By drawing on Jung’s ideas and the Hero’s Journey, it looks at how a difficult climb can become a gentle reflection on failure, persistence, and self-acceptance.

United by dissatisfaction: How players bounded together to protest changes done to their favourite game

400,000 players revolted against the game Maple Story, causing a new law to mandate that the probably of random systems to be disclosed in South Korea. In this research by Park and colleagues, they highlight the importance of player activism, reflecting on the Maple Refugee incident.

How Gambling Took Over Gaming

Everyone dreams of winning the lottery. Few manage to, and even more spend their entire lives trying. Now, gambling disguised as mechanics is getting increasingly normalized, and soon, gaming will be synonymous with taking a risk. This article is a critique of the current state of the industry.

Myths for a Better Tomorrow 

What if the stories you live through in games were the myths of today? Ludomythologies is a fresh research publication that unpacks how games create and transform modern myths that shape culture and imagination. Ready to see your favorite games from a new, surprising perspective? #GameStudies #MythMaking #Ludomythologies

The Ludic Sublime from Dark Souls to Animal Well

What makes a game world feel mysterious and unknowable? A ten-year-old game studies paper provides a compelling answer. #mystery #adventure

How do you want to do this? – A look into the therapeutic uses of role-playing games

Can playing RPGs contribute positively to your wellbeing? A recent study aims to find out how RPGs are being used in therapeutic practises and what results they've yielded thus far. #MentalHealth #RPG

Eldritch horrors and tentacles - Defining what “Lovecraftian” is in games

H.P. Lovecrafts legacy lives today in the shared world of Cthulhu Mythos and its iconic monsters. Prema Arasu defines the meaning of “Lovecraftian” and what it means to consumers through investigating Steam users applying the Lovecraftian tag. #Lovecraftian #Steam #Games #Culture

Of claws and cuddles: Exploring Dark Cozy Games

Cute, wholesome, safe....dark, heavy, violent? Let's talk about dark cozy games!

From an imaginary world into the classroom. What is the benefit of roleplaying games in education?

Rolling dice and calculating distances that are required to plunge and arrow into a well poisoning madmen isn’t something people would expect happening in a formal education setting. However, a study shows that incorporating play behavior into curriculum has notable, yet understudied benefits in classrooms. #roleplayinggames #education #gameresearch

Not Just Fun, Rethinking Video Games

Why do people play games? Just because it's fun? This research doesn't think so.

Gaming Through Grief: How Playing Video Games Help Players Find Meaning in Loss

Discover how video games evoke memories, offer comfort, and transform loss into healing and meaning-making. #bereavement #meaning-making #videogames

Board game culture is changing…

A recent research article from the UK highlights the difficulties women face in board game spaces. But, there is hope because things are changing. #BoardGames #gender #culture #GeekMasculinity

"Historically and Geographically Incorrect" - Colonialism and Board Games

Board games with colonialist themes as the focus of online discussions