Elden Ring: Cosmologies in Conflict

This is the first article in the Video Game Cosmology series. Read the intro here. If you like my work, consider supporting me on Patreon! From the moment we step under Elden Ring’s sky, we spend most of our time in the shadow of the colossal, luminous Erdtree; a

What in the World(s) is Video Game Cosmology? An Intro

This is the intro to the Video Game Cosmology series. If you like my work, consider supporting me on Patreon! Chances are you are reading these words on a machine fixed by gravity to the surface of a planet called Earth. You maybe use that same machine to conjure make-belief

Why Gwyn Must Die

This article was originally published by Kotaku UK on October 10 2018. This republished version includes some minor changes. Gwyn, Lord of Cinder and former Lord of Sunlight, sits at the centre of the tangled labyrinth that is Dark Souls. The harmful consequences of his presence spread through every capillary

The Doomed Heroes of Dark Souls

This article was originally published by Kotaku UK on March 24 2017. This republished version includes some minor changes. Video games usually have an easy answer to the question “What does it mean to be a hero?” It’s an opportunity for excitement and adventure, to enter a virtual world

Bloodborne, Transhumanism and Cosmic Cyberpunk

This article was originally published by Kotaku UK on August 18 2017. With all its morbid decadence, the richly-layered Gothic imagination and cosmic horror of Bloodborne tends to overshadow some of its more (post)modern influences. Bloodborne isn’t a traditionalist, after all, but a punk: or to be more

Not Yet Built and Already Ruined: The Ruins of The Green Knight and Pendragon

The Arthurian worlds of Inkle’s tactical narrative game Pendragon and the movie The Green Knight have one thing in common: the grand, pathetic ruins of castles, monasteries, and chapels. In The Green Knight, a castle in ruins is the first landmark Gawain passes as he sets out on his

The Artists and Paintings That Bleed Through Bloodborne

This article was originally published by Kotaku UK on December 9 2016. This republished version includes some minor changes. Even as you are beaten to a bloody pulp by some horrific creature, you can’t help but notice the beauty in From Software’s action RPGs. Whether you’re playing

What the Epic of Gilgamesh can tell us about Disco Elysium’s most troubling character, the Deserter

contains spoilers for the Epic of Gilgamesh! (also Disco Elysium) It’s an old story. The oldest we know of, in fact: The Epic of Gilgamesh. Having been confronted with the terrible reality of death, our archetypal hero Gilgamesh embarks on a quest for the legendary figure of Utnapishtim, who

The Past Stays Present. Thoughts on Before the Storm's Farewell Episode

*spoilers ahead, ye landlubbers!* I’ve spent many hours (re)playing the whole Life is Strange series over the last couple of months. Even though I liked the original game very much at the time of its release, it’s one of those rare games that I’ve come to

We’re all Meat. A few thoughts on Resident Evil VII and The Texas Chainsaw Massacre

Depictions of the eating of meat in horror films and games have been a major fascination for me for years. As a vegetarian, I may have a different gut reaction to this than most people, but that doesn’t mean that the trope of disturbing carnivorism lacks mainstream “appeal”. The

Revolution without End

This is a translation of my article “Revolution ohne Ende” which was originally published in WASD 11 “Revolution – Games & Change”. (c) WASD, 11/17. Marked by ruins and the undead, the world of Dark Souls may seem apocalyptic, but the old order is still very much (half-)alive. This

Prey Tell, What Lies through the Looking Glass?

No major spoilers, but I recommend playing at least halfway through Prey before reading. One point of criticism often levelled at Prey is its story, setting, and characters — what you might call its fiction. On the surface, it’s true that the story has pacing issues, that the setting is