https://doi.org/10.21697/kmt.2025.65.04
The article addresses the issue of representing maternal figures in video games, with particular emphasis on titles within the horror genre. In high-budget, mainstream productions, mothers are typically marginalized, entirely absent, or depicted as a threat to the protagonists, as the narrative focus tends to revolve around the father figure and his relationship with the child. The text discusses the phenomenon of the “dadification” of video games, which highlights the theme of heroic fatherhood. Furthermore, it provides an analysis of three games that explore motherhood, caregiving in the face of impending catastrophe, and the bond between mother and child. The article also identifies potential reasons underlying the one-sided portrayal of parental relationships in video games.
Key words: motherhood, video games, horror, dadification
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Język Polski
English