Video Games for Calm and Introspection: A Brief (and Calm) Examination of Stillgames
Video Games for Calm and Introspection: A Brief (and Calm) Examination of Stillgames
Author(s): Piotr KubińskiContributor(s): Małgorzata Olsza (Translator)
Subject(s): Media studies, Aesthetics, Social Informatics, ICT Information and Communications Technologies
Published by: Uniwersytet im. Adama Mickiewicza w Poznaniu
Keywords: video games; game studies; quietude; introspection; close reading;
Summary/Abstract: This article discusses stillgames, that is video games designed around experiences of stillness, contemplation, and silence, in opposition to the dominant aesthetics of excess, dynamics, and competition. Characteristic features of this trend are analyzed, such as minimalist gameplay, subdued audiovisuals, observation-based interactions, and a rejection of a gameplay structure based on the risk of failure. Stillgames are placed within the broader context of game studies (particularly in relation to cozy games, idle games, and gaming culture), as well as within the broader context of the medium’s history. Their unique nature and cultural significance are thus both established and emphasized.
Journal: Forum Poetyki
- Issue Year: 2025
- Issue No: 41-42
- Page Range: 120-135
- Page Count: 16
- Language: English
