Video Games: Entertainment Meets Philosophy

By Jennifer Janviere

Most of us think of video games as purely entertainment; a temporary escape from the trappings of reality. But have we ever considered these games to be catalysts for critical thought or departure points for open-ended philosophical questions? A recent segment of  NPR’s On the Media discussed the moral and symbolic complexities of video games, a subject that has more depth than many of us may realize.

In a particularly interesting example, the broadcast referenced “Passage,” a 2009 release that, at first glance, looks like an early 1980’s arcade game. In the current era of slick, hyper-realistic video games, it’s easy to initially dismiss Passage by its unpolished appearance. The premise also seems simple at first: a pixelated character wanders around the screen, only to die within three minutes time, every time. What’s the point? It’s only after playing a few times that it becomes evident: the game is a metaphor for the human journey through life.