The Apocalypse Within: Portraying Psychological Resilience and Anti-Fragility Through Games Like Hellblade (video essay)

Video essay on the idea of "inner apocalypses" as exemplified by the game Hellblade: Senua's Sacrifice, presented during the Future and Reality of Gaming (FROG) Conference, Vienna, October 11–13, 2024.

This presentation explores the concept of apocalyptic individuality in video games, with a particular focus on Hellblade: Senua's Sacrifice. It examines how games are redefining apocalyptic narratives by shifting from external, world-ending scenarios to deeply personal, psyche-shattering experiences. The talk delves into the portrayal of mental health in gaming, the concept of inner apocalypses, and how interactive media can create shared experiences of personal crises. It discusses the potential of games to foster empathy and understanding of complex psychological states. The presentation concludes by reflecting on how this new approach to apocalyptic narratives in gaming might influence our broader understanding of individual struggle, collective empathy, and the nature of reality itself.

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Voice-over by "Anabelle, The Ghost" created with typecast.ai.
Music by Guilherme Bernardes William from Pixabay.