Existential Boredom: A Sartrean Approach to Game Design

Authors : Volkan Davut Mengi

Pages : 137-160

View : 38 | Download : 56

Publication Date : 2025-09-30

Article Type : Research Paper

Abstract :This paper investigates the intersection of existential philosophy and video game design by proposing an experimental digital game that simulates Jean-Paul Sartre’s concept of boredom. Traditionally, video games are designed to entertain, stimulate, and immerse players through narrative engagement, aesthetic appeal, and dynamic gameplay mechanics. In contrast, this study introduces a philosophical and artistic counterpoint: a game intentionally constructed to induce boredom and disengagement. Utilizing Sartre’s writings on existentialism-specifically his concept of “nausea” as a reaction to absurdity the project creates a desktop game called Existential Therapy, in which players experience prolonged periods of emotional standstill, narrative stagnation, and negligible narrative or game rewards. This paper aims to show that such a game focuses on meaning beyond reason for entertainment and, to a greater extent, demonstrates that video games can serve as legitimate art and philosophical works. Through a lack of engaging game elements and the embrace of discomfort, the game turns into a tool to experience and embody philosophical ideas. This work is a contribution to the already existing discourse on “philosophical game design” which aims to use interactivity as the subject of existential inquiry. Instead ofengaging with the game solely as a goal to achieve, players are invited to con-template the essence of time, meaning, and existence.
Keywords : Varoluşçuluk, Oyun Tasarımı, Felsefe, Bilgisayar Oyunları

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