From legends to a new reality. The transformation of Scandinavian mythology in video games

Abstract

Among players, games that appeal to mythology, especially the mythological system of the Scandinavian peoples, are extremely popular. This makes it relevant to study the aspect of how mythology is integrated into the gameplay and game narrative. In this work, we analyze the existence of Scandinavian mythology in computer video games as an element of their narrative. The material for analysis was a wide range of visual and textual details, game mechanics, gameplay details, and the game interface. Various ways of incorporating elements of Scandinavian mythology into video games were considered, as well as their impact on the gameplay and player perception. Studying the dynamics of the use of mythological systems by game developers allows us to trace how the approach to the use of mythology in video games is changing and how new interpretations and adaptations of mythological plots are created. The results of the study can be useful for understanding how mythology affects the creation and perception of video games, as well as for developing new gaming projects using mythological elements.