READ ABOUT OUR TAGS AND SEE WHICH GAMES ARE ASSOCIATED WITH THEM
|
NOTE:
This archive is a tool meant to help you understand what games influence your perspective. Please use it responsibly to inform, but not dictate, your opinion. |
Alternate History
Many video games take place in an alternate history. When playing a game with this tag, it could be a good idea to stay informed on the actual history being depicted, as to not be misled by any false events in the game. Additionally, it is important to keep in mind the message the game may be trying to send by using any changes to the historical narrative.
Many video games take place in an alternate history. When playing a game with this tag, it could be a good idea to stay informed on the actual history being depicted, as to not be misled by any false events in the game. Additionally, it is important to keep in mind the message the game may be trying to send by using any changes to the historical narrative.
Colonialist Mindset
Video games can perpetuate a colonialist mindset by encouraging players to treat the game as purely theirs for consumption. These games often fail to properly depict how extraction of natural or cultural resources can hurt a region and its inhabitants. While we are not saying that we expect “Minecraft” to accurately depict the deforestation harms of cutting down trees, or realistically simulate a reaction to taking materials from a village, it is important to keep in mind the ways in which video game depictions of resource collection may involve themes of colonialism.
Video games can perpetuate a colonialist mindset by encouraging players to treat the game as purely theirs for consumption. These games often fail to properly depict how extraction of natural or cultural resources can hurt a region and its inhabitants. While we are not saying that we expect “Minecraft” to accurately depict the deforestation harms of cutting down trees, or realistically simulate a reaction to taking materials from a village, it is important to keep in mind the ways in which video game depictions of resource collection may involve themes of colonialism.
Civilization 6
Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain
Middle Earth: Shadow of War
Minecraft
No Man's Sky
Tomb Raider
Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain
Middle Earth: Shadow of War
Minecraft
No Man's Sky
Tomb Raider
Female Protagonist
When playing a game with a female protagonist, it is important to keep in mind how your character may be treated differently or given different options when inhabiting digital spaces that are most often male dominated. Representation of women in video games is incredibly important, but that representation should not take the form of negative stereotypes or hyper-sexualized characters.
When playing a game with a female protagonist, it is important to keep in mind how your character may be treated differently or given different options when inhabiting digital spaces that are most often male dominated. Representation of women in video games is incredibly important, but that representation should not take the form of negative stereotypes or hyper-sexualized characters.
Macho Male Protagonist
Many video games have you play as a macho male protagonist. While these characters can be fun to play, they can also be unrealistic and hurtful depictions of masculinity. When playing as a Macho Male Protagonist, it can be good to be aware of the different options that are provided to you and the actions that you are able to take, and how those might not have been provided to others.
Many video games have you play as a macho male protagonist. While these characters can be fun to play, they can also be unrealistic and hurtful depictions of masculinity. When playing as a Macho Male Protagonist, it can be good to be aware of the different options that are provided to you and the actions that you are able to take, and how those might not have been provided to others.
Borderlands 2
Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain
Middle Earth: Shadow of War
Wolfenstein: The New Order
Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain
Middle Earth: Shadow of War
Wolfenstein: The New Order
South West Asia Depiction
Many video games take place in South West Asia, some in real countries and some in made up places that still are indicated to from that area. When playing a video game set in South West Asia, it is important to be cognizant of what aspects of that region are depicted or not, and how those depictions play into already existing stereotypes.
Many video games take place in South West Asia, some in real countries and some in made up places that still are indicated to from that area. When playing a video game set in South West Asia, it is important to be cognizant of what aspects of that region are depicted or not, and how those depictions play into already existing stereotypes.
No Civilians
Many video games contain no civilians in situations where there would realistically be civilians. The most striking examples are how most first person war games don’t include the civilians being injured as you shoot at an enemy in the middle of the street. In real wars, there are horrific civilian casualties, but in video games without civilians there is often a distinct lack of this awful aspect of war and violence. We are not necessarily advocating for that to be included in games, but suggest that you do not let these types of games color your vision of war as less violent and terrible that it actually is.
Many video games contain no civilians in situations where there would realistically be civilians. The most striking examples are how most first person war games don’t include the civilians being injured as you shoot at an enemy in the middle of the street. In real wars, there are horrific civilian casualties, but in video games without civilians there is often a distinct lack of this awful aspect of war and violence. We are not necessarily advocating for that to be included in games, but suggest that you do not let these types of games color your vision of war as less violent and terrible that it actually is.
Borderlands 2
Counter Strike: Global Offensive
Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain
Middle Earth: Shadow of War
Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order
Counter Strike: Global Offensive
Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain
Middle Earth: Shadow of War
Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order
Political Commentary
In the modern era more and more video games have powerful and often nuanced political views and messages. However, much like you would when watching a politically themed movie or reading a politically themed book, it is important to form your own opinions on topics depicted in video games rather than take everything at face value. The key difference in video games is that you are often in control of (or at least watching through the viewpoint of) an actor in a story, and so it is often good to separate your own opinions and beliefs from those of the character you may be made to play in a game.
In the modern era more and more video games have powerful and often nuanced political views and messages. However, much like you would when watching a politically themed movie or reading a politically themed book, it is important to form your own opinions on topics depicted in video games rather than take everything at face value. The key difference in video games is that you are often in control of (or at least watching through the viewpoint of) an actor in a story, and so it is often good to separate your own opinions and beliefs from those of the character you may be made to play in a game.
Bioshock Infinite
Papers, Please
Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order
This War of Mine
Wolfenstein: The New Order
Papers, Please
Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order
This War of Mine
Wolfenstein: The New Order
Social Commentary
Games with this tag provide some social commentary through their various game elements (story, level design, sound, mechanics, etc). It can be valuable to spend more time than you might otherwise to truly investigate the politics of the game to find if the social commentary provided is valuable and important to you.
Games with this tag provide some social commentary through their various game elements (story, level design, sound, mechanics, etc). It can be valuable to spend more time than you might otherwise to truly investigate the politics of the game to find if the social commentary provided is valuable and important to you.
Stereotypes
Video games, like other forms of media, often rely on stereotypes to tell stories. Stereotypes of all kinds can be found in video games, from racist stereotypes to sexist ones, to stereotypes about countries or religions. Stereotypes can be dangerous in the ways they do not tell the whole story of any group, or more often in that they are wrong altogether.
Video games, like other forms of media, often rely on stereotypes to tell stories. Stereotypes of all kinds can be found in video games, from racist stereotypes to sexist ones, to stereotypes about countries or religions. Stereotypes can be dangerous in the ways they do not tell the whole story of any group, or more often in that they are wrong altogether.
Bioshock Infinite
Borderlands 2
Civilization 6
Counter Strike: Global Offensive
Middle Earth: Shadow of War
Papers, Please
Super Meat Boy
The Walking Dead
Tomb Raider
Wolfenstein: The New Order
Borderlands 2
Civilization 6
Counter Strike: Global Offensive
Middle Earth: Shadow of War
Papers, Please
Super Meat Boy
The Walking Dead
Tomb Raider
Wolfenstein: The New Order
Terrorists
The Terrorist is a classic video game enemy. Usually single minded in their goal of causing terror, terrorist are most often depicted in media as either from South West Asia or Russia. When fighting terrorists in a video game, it is important to consider how this kind of representation can affect the way we look at groups of people in negative ways.
The Terrorist is a classic video game enemy. Usually single minded in their goal of causing terror, terrorist are most often depicted in media as either from South West Asia or Russia. When fighting terrorists in a video game, it is important to consider how this kind of representation can affect the way we look at groups of people in negative ways.
Us vs. Them
Most video games require an enemy, or at least something standing in the protagonist’s way. In some cases that enemy is indefensible, like the Nazis in “Wolfenstein.” In other cases the enemy is just the enemy because the game said so, and you may even have the chance to play for both sides like in “Counter Strike”. Whatever the situation, it is a good idea to take a moment while playing a video game to think on your character's goals, who is standing in their way, and if there is any implication there worth exploring.
Most video games require an enemy, or at least something standing in the protagonist’s way. In some cases that enemy is indefensible, like the Nazis in “Wolfenstein.” In other cases the enemy is just the enemy because the game said so, and you may even have the chance to play for both sides like in “Counter Strike”. Whatever the situation, it is a good idea to take a moment while playing a video game to think on your character's goals, who is standing in their way, and if there is any implication there worth exploring.
Assassin's Creed
Bioshock Infinite
Borderlands 2
Civilization 6
Counter Strike: Global Offensive
Dishonored 2
Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain
Middle Earth: Shadow of War
Minecraft
Papers, Please
Portal 2
Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order
Super Meat Boy
The Walking Dead
This War of Mine
Tomb Raider
Wolfenstein: The New Order
XCOM
Bioshock Infinite
Borderlands 2
Civilization 6
Counter Strike: Global Offensive
Dishonored 2
Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain
Middle Earth: Shadow of War
Minecraft
Papers, Please
Portal 2
Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order
Super Meat Boy
The Walking Dead
This War of Mine
Tomb Raider
Wolfenstein: The New Order
XCOM
Western Worldview
Many video games are made by Western design studios for Western audiences. When playing a game with this tag, it is important to keep in mind how that lens affects the kinds of stories that are or aren’t told. Games with this tag are also more likely to include stereotypes based on Western systems of thinking.
Many video games are made by Western design studios for Western audiences. When playing a game with this tag, it is important to keep in mind how that lens affects the kinds of stories that are or aren’t told. Games with this tag are also more likely to include stereotypes based on Western systems of thinking.
Bioshock Infinite
Borderlands 2
Civilization 6
Counter Strike: Global Offensive
Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain
Middle Earth: Shadow of War
Minecraft
Papers, Please
Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order
The Walking Dead
This War of Mine
Tomb Raider
Wolfenstein: The New Order
Borderlands 2
Civilization 6
Counter Strike: Global Offensive
Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain
Middle Earth: Shadow of War
Minecraft
Papers, Please
Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order
The Walking Dead
This War of Mine
Tomb Raider
Wolfenstein: The New Order