Joanna Österman – PlayLab! Magazine

Totalitarianism in the age of ice and steam

#Frostpunk demonstrates political progress and how #totalitarian tendencies may develop

As in literature and film, estrangement in games reinvigorates perception and returns a forgotten essence of things

Meta-literacy as an ability to master the gameworld might help explain why we enjoy spending so much time in them

Evolution is not something tacked on – the co-evolutionary competition drives play, making the dynamics and theme neatly integrated.

Ways of telling stories can be highlighted through comparing narrative tools in videogames and literature.

For the narrative enthusiast, complex storytelling far outweighs the clunky combat in Hellblade: Senua’s Sacrifice

The occasionally clunky AI and animation do not do justice to the well crafted drama and compelling voice acting.