Cyfrowa Epidemia - Gry które stworzyły wirtualną pandemie

Klaudia Stanek; Julia Karpińska

doi:10.21697/kmt.2025.65.07

Published: 2026-03-31

Vol. 65 No. 1 (2026)

Digital Epidemic – Games That Created a Virtual Pandemic

Klaudia Stanek

, Julia Karpińska

Kultura Media Teologia

Section: peer-reviewed article

https://doi.org/10.21697/kmt.2025.65.07

Abstract

The global COVID-19 pandemic has shaken the world, affecting both daily life and the mental and physical health of individuals. During this period, the digital space, and in particular the video game sector, has seen a marked increase in user activity. The experiences associated with lockdowns, social restrictions, and a sense of uncertainty have created a context that has changed the way games dealing with the pandemic, quarantine, and health crises are perceived. The aim of this article is to address the key question: Does the pandemic and the risks it poses alter the approach to games, and what role can they play in these challenging times?

Keywords:

Pandemic, COVID-19, COVID-19, video games, lockdown

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Stanek, Klaudia, and Julia Karpińska. “Digital Epidemic – Games That Created a Virtual Pandemic”. Kultura Media Teologia, vol. 65, no. 1, Mar. 2026, pp. 113-31, doi:10.21697/kmt.2025.65.07.

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This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

Klaudia Stanek

staneklaudia@gmail.com
https://orcid.org/0009-0005-8591-5596

Affiliation:

Kazimierz Wielki University Poland

Bio Statement (e.g., department and rank)

Klaudia Stanek – a graduate of a BA programme in computer game graphics, currently pursuing an MA degree, expanding her interests to include research on video game culture and its impact on social behaviour and education. Her work combines experience in the creation of visual aspects of games with an analysis of their potential as research and simulation tools.

Julia Karpińska

https://orcid.org/0009-0000-1636-0447

Affiliation:

Kazimierz Wielki University Poland

Bio Statement (e.g., department and rank)

Julia Karpińska – holds a BA in Journalism and Social Communication as well as in Second-Generation Humanities; currently a graduate student in Game Studies (Game Research and Design) at Kazimierz Wielki University in Bydgoszcz. Her research interests include game engines, artificial intelligence, and gaming communities.