Sustainable Game Design beyond the “Nature-as- Franchise” Paradigm

Stefan Werning

doi:10.1201/9781003512400-19

Sustainable Game Design beyond the “Nature-as- Franchise” Paradigm

Stefan Werning^*

^*Corresponding author for this work

ICON - Media and Performance Studies

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Chapter › Academic › peer-review

Abstract

This chapter explores how the increasing abundance of sustainability-themed games and the sometimes-uncritical application of game design patterns carry a risk of misrepresenting climate emergencies, human-nature relations, as well as alternative, more sustainable futures and might, in the worst case, contribute to greenwashing digital games as a medium. This critical examination is followed by suggested methods for avoiding these risks.

Original language	English
Title of host publication	The Game Needs to Change
Subtitle of host publication	Towards Sustainable Game Design
Publisher	CRC Press
Pages	159-169
Number of pages	11
ISBN (Electronic)	9781040445662
ISBN (Print)	9781032843667
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1201/9781003512400-19
Publication status	Published - 17 Nov 2025

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
© 2026 selection and editorial matter, Patrick Prax, Clayton Whittle, and Trevin York; individual hapters, the contributors.

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10.1201/9781003512400-19

Cite this

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Sustainable Game Design beyond the “Nature-as- Franchise” Paradigm

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