In this webinar we will explore the emerging field of environmental game studies. After a brief introduction to the field as it stands in 2025, by Dr. Laura op de Beke, we will reflect on our experiences playing a selection of short ecogames (easily, and freely available on the internet). Inspired by Benjamin Abraham’s critical article, we will ask: What makes these games ecocritical? And how do these interactive works engage with climate change and the Anthropocene in ways that are distinct from literature? But also, how do the stories these games tell echo stories that are already told in other media like film or literary and genre fiction? And what methods do cultural scholars and literary scholars bring to the table for the critical analysis of games as texts?

This webinar is for scholars who are interested in exploring ecocritical game analysis. Whether you’re a seasoned player or a noob, all are welcome.

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In preparation, please play at least two of these games (more is better!):

• Nightflyer (free, 5-minute browser game)
• Half-Earth Socialism (free, simulation game, one playthrough is 20–30 mins)
• Where the Goats Are (pay what you want, 1-hour immersive experience)
• Known Mysteries (pay what you want, 3 volume interactive narrative, solar-powered hosting, sustainable lofi design)
• Lichenia (free, simulation game, 15 minutes or more)

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Please read:

Abraham, Benjamin. 2018. “What Is an Ecological Game? Examining Gaming’s Ecological Dynamics and Metaphors through the Survival-Crafting Genre.” TRACE, no. 2: Ecoplay, Digital Games, and Environmental Rhetoric.

http://tracejournal.net/trace-issues/issue2/01-Abraham.html

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Suggested reading/viewing:

• Op de Beke, Laura, Joost Raessens, and Stefan Werning. 2024. “Ecogames: An Introduction.” Ecogames: Playful Perspectives on the Climate Crisis. Amsterdam University Press. pp. 9–70.
• Super Bunnyhop. 2020. “Global Warming, as Depicted by 30 Years of Strategy Games.” YouTube.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9n78WYo-SQQ&t=263s

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Bio:

Laura op de Beke is Assistant Professor of Interactive Media, Screens, and Interfaces at Utrecht University. Her research focuses on games and cultures of play, specifically in the context of the climate crisis. She teaches in the fields of environmental media studies and the environmental humanities more broadly. Laura also designs larps or live-action role-playing games. You can check out her work here: www.lauraopdbeke.com

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