In the ever-expanding world of video games, we often find ourselves traversing vibrant landscapes, battling fierce adversaries, and uncovering hidden treasures. But as the world around us grapples with the stark realities of climate change, another, more somber theme has begun to seep into the games we play: the grief and anxiety tied to a world in peril. This phenomenon, known as climate grief and climate anxiety, is not just a fleeting feeling but a profound emotional experience that can deeply resonate with players, sometimes in ways we may not even fully realize.
The Emergence of Climate Grief in Games
Climate grief, or the deep sorrow felt in response to environmental loss and degradation, is becoming increasingly prevalent in our society. It’s an emotion that’s easy to overlook in the hustle and bustle of everyday life but hard to ignore when it’s woven into the fabric of the games we play. Whether it’s the desolate ruins of a once-thriving ecosystem or the tragic story of a species on the brink of extinction, video games are beginning to reflect the harsh realities of our changing planet.
A study conducted by the Yale Program on Climate Change Communication revealed that video gamers, more than the general public, feel a wide range of emotions related to global warming. With 68% of players feeling “very†or “moderately†interested in the topic itself, 57% feeling sad, 54% afraid, and 52% feeling angry (Leiserowitz et al., 2022), it’s clear that the medium of video games is uniquely positioned to evoke and explore these complex feelings about our changing world (and our role in it).
One game that powerfully encapsulates the direct impact of climate change is Endling: Extinction is Forever, a BAFTA award winning game developed by Herobeat Studios and published by HandyGames in 2022. This game tells the heartbreaking story of the last fox family on Earth, set in a world ravaged by environmental collapse. Players take on the role of a mother fox struggling to survive in a landscape marred by deforestation, pollution, and human encroachment. The game vividly portrays the devastating effects of habitat destruction, forcing players to confront the reality of species decline and extinction. As the mother fox, players must guide her cubs through a hostile environment, constantly fighting for survival in a world where every decision could mean the difference between life and death for her offspring.
Endling: Extinction is Forever doesn’t just tell a story — it makes players feel the weight of environmental destruction and the grief of witnessing a species’ final moments. The game serves as a poignant reminder of the fragility of life and the irreversible consequences of climate change, leaving players with a profound sense of loss and reflection.
Understanding Climate Anxiety Through Gaming
But it’s not just grief that players are encountering — there’s also a growing sense of anxiety. Climate anxiety, or eco-anxiety, refers to the chronic fear of environmental doom. It’s a mental health condition that’s becoming increasingly common, especially among younger generations who are more aware of the impending threats to our planet.
According to Yale experts, climate anxiety can manifest in various ways, from intrusive thoughts and distress about future disasters to physical symptoms like a racing heart or shortness of breath. This anxiety is not just about what is happening now but about what the future holds — a future that, in many video games, is depicted as bleak and unforgiving.
Games like Endling: Extinction is Forever not only evoke grief for what has been lost but also instill a deep sense of foreboding about what lies ahead. The desolation of the world around the player mirrors the anxiety many feel about our planet’s future — a future where climate change has gone unchecked, leaving destruction in its wake. For players already grappling with the weight of climate concerns in the real world, these virtual experiences can be both a mirror and a magnifier of their deepest fears.
The Power and Responsibility of Game Design
As game designers, this intersection of climate grief and anxiety presents both a challenge and an opportunity. We must ask ourselves: How do we create worlds that evoke strong emotions without leaving our players overwhelmed or despondent? How can we harness the power of these emotions to foster understanding, resilience, and even action?
One approach is to adopt a trauma-informed design strategy. Trauma-informed care in game design means being aware of the emotional impact that our stories and environments can have on players. It involves creating experiences that acknowledge the potential for grief and anxiety while offering pathways for healing and empowerment. This could mean incorporating elements of hope, providing players with the tools to rebuild and restore the worlds they inhabit, or designing narratives that emphasize resilience and collective action.
Moreover, we can consider how the emotions stirred by our games might translate into real-world actions. The same Yale study highlighted that collective action could be a powerful antidote to climate anxiety. By engaging in group activities aimed at addressing climate change, individuals can find a sense of purpose and community, which in turn can alleviate some of the mental burdens associated with eco-anxiety. Game designers might explore ways to integrate this concept into gameplay, encouraging players to come together to overcome challenges, both in-game and in their communities.
Reflection and Consideration for the Future
As we continue to craft the virtual worlds that captivate millions, it’s worth pausing to reflect on the emotional journeys we’re guiding our players through. Looking forward, how can we as devs support our players as they navigate these intense emotions? Perhaps it’s by providing them with narratives that acknowledge their grief and anxiety, while also offering hope and a sense of agency. Or maybe it’s about designing games that inspire real-world action, empowering players to channel their feelings into advocacy and change.
Ultimately, the worlds we build in our games are more than just pixels and code — they are powerful tools that can shape emotions, perspectives, and even actions. As we tell stories that evoke grief and anxiety, let’s do so with care, with an awareness of the impact these stories can have, and with a vision for how we can help our players not just confront these feelings, but transform them into something meaningful. The call to action is not just for our players, but for us as designers: to take notice, to take care, and to consider how the worlds we create can inspire real-world change.
Additional Resource: Journaling Prompts
If you’re interested in exploring your own relationship with eco-emotions and your gaming experiences, here are a series of questions you can reflect on. Consider this a side quest to test the waters for your own feelings and hold space for what you find there.
- Think back to the video game worlds that shaped your early experiences as both a player and a developer. What memories do you associate with these virtual environments? How have these settings and narratives influenced your approach to game design today?
- Think about a moment in a video game where a natural or environmental setting left a lasting impression on you. How did that in-game experience make you feel, and how does it compare to similar experiences in the real world? Have you ever felt a similar sense of connection, loss, or awe in nature outside of gaming?
- List the games that have left a big impact on you. Do any of these games, either directly, or indirectly, explore themes like climate change, environmental awareness, species extinction, habitat loss, or resource scarcity (food, water, homes)? What role do these topics play in the games, and how did experiencing them make you feel? Do these experiences relate to your feelings about similar issues in the real world? Why or why not?
Original article: https://medium.com/@roshellepixelle/how-video-games-might-be-the-key-to-overcoming-climate-dread-8ff66e4b39e5