From the sacred rituals of online communities to the moral dilemmas of post-apocalyptic worlds, this section explores how games mirror — and shape — human psychology. Discover how cognition, emotion, identity, and storytelling collide in digital spaces, revealing what play can teach us about ourselves, our culture, and the worlds we build together.
The Outer Worlds 2: A Satire That Says Less Than It Thinks It Does
The Outer Worlds 2 Review: Our critique argues Obsidian's sequel misses the mark. The satire is too blunt, the companions are formulaic, and the main quest drops its themes for a cosmic twist.
Performing Redemption: Self-Determination, Identity, and Existential Labor in Wolfstride
An in-depth psychological analysis of Wolfstride explores how its mecha battles and menial labor mirror the struggle for identity, autonomy, and redemption. Using Self-Determination Theory, this essay reveals how true heroism lies in the quiet work of repair.
Fallout 4, Cognitive Dissonance, and the Case for the Distant Tiger: A Psychological Perspective on Main Quest Design
Explore how Fallout 4’s main quest creates cognitive dissonance and how psychology, through temporal and distance discounting, offers smarter game design.
Blood and Reflection: The Psychology of Missed Potential in Vampire: The Masquerade – Bloodlines 2
A psychological deep dive into Vampire: The Masquerade – Bloodlines 2. Exploring missed potential, identity, and the loss of the Beast within a haunting neon Seattle, this essay examines how atmosphere outshines agency in Paradox’s long-awaited vampire RPG.
Ichiban Kasuga: A Progressive Hero Undermined by Problematic Substories
Discover how Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth portrays Ichiban Kasuga as a model of modern masculinity, but undermines this with problematic depictions of consent in certain side stories.
Identity Theft in the Age of Digital Souls: The Psychological Horror of Stolen Consciousness in Cyberpunk 2077
Examine how Cyberpunk 2077 redefines identity theft in the context of consciousness transfer, exploring the deep psychological implications of losing control over one's self in a digital era.
Silent Hill 2’s Angela: Trauma, Redesign, and The Psychology of Authentic Representation
Explore the psychology of trauma representation, examine the impact of redesign on character narratives, and explore how audience expectations shape responses to character changes in the remake.
Life is Strange Double Exposure: Analysis of Dodie's 'Someone Was Listening'
Discover the emotional depth of Dodie’s 'Someone Was Listening' from Life is Strange: Double Exposure. This analysis dives into themes of trust, isolation, and the longing for connection, unravelling how the lyrics resonate with both the game’s characters and listeners alike.
From Sage to Sidekick: Has the Wise Old Man of Jungian Mythology Transformed into the 'Pint-Sized Pal' of Video Games?
Explore how video games transformed the wise old man archetype into quirky companions. Explore the evolution of mentorship in gaming, from Merlin to Navi, and discover why these pint-sized pals are more than just comic relief.
How Jungian Psychology is Woven into the Persona Video Game Series
Explore how Jungian psychology is woven into the Persona series.
From Damsel to Decision-Maker: Gender Representation and Agency in Slay the Princess
Explore how Slay the Princess subverts the stereotypical princess trope, drawing on psychological theories and peer-reviewed sources to analyse its impact on perceptions of gender and agency.
The Power of Choice: How Video Games Shape Our Moral Compass
Explore how video games shape our moral compass, delving into the psychological mechanisms at play.
Psychological Themes in Life is Strange
Life is Strange, developed by Dontnod Entertainment, is a critically acclaimed episodic graphic adventure game that explores complex psychological themes through its narrative and character development. This article delves into the psychological aspects of Life is Strange, focusing on themes such as trauma, identity, morality, and the impact of choices. By examining these elements through the lens of psychological theory and research, we can gain a deeper understanding of how video games can effectively convey profound psychological experiences.