Does Green Design in Video Games Have a Biophilic Effect?

Biophilic design has to do with the physical furnishing and arrangement of indoor spaces.

As we’ve noted in the past however, the biophilic design concept is ultimately about bringing the outdoors in to “re-establish our connection to nature” even when we’re stuck in enclosed environments.

It’s an idea that some think of as being “good for the soul,” as well as one that’s increasingly significant in its ability to help us recognize what we’re losing as climate change progresses.

When we think about this broader definition of biophilic design though, it’s interesting to consider how the concept might apply beyond the setup of physical spaces.

In this post we’re going to explore specifically whether or not biophilic concepts are beginning to play a role in video games. Because whether intentionally or not, the infusion of natural environments into popular games appears to be something of a growing trend.

Mainstream Video Games

For almost as long as mainstream video games have existed, there have been plenty that have made good use of outdoor settings. That much is a given.

With improvement in game design however, these settings have grown increasingly sophisticated and beautiful — to the point that some find them (even subconsciously) almost therapeutic.

Last year, Polygon published a terrific write-up on “games that feel like going outside,” highlighting examples like The Legend Of Zelda: Breath Of The Wild, Eastshade, Assassin’s Creed: Odyssey, and even Red Dead Redemption 2.

The outdoor environments in these games are lush, gorgeous, and frankly reminiscent of an older and less impacted world — or at the very least of remote environments most of us don’t interact with very often.

As exciting as the accompanying gameplay can be, these games are exciting just to live in.

Casino Games

Casino gaming through online platforms and mobile apps has grown more popular in the last decade, and it’s largely because the games are relying more on visual quality and a sense of setting.

This is particularly true in the arcade slots that have come to define the category in large part, and many of them have immersive, nature-based atmospheres that make them surprisingly soothing.

It’s a difficult category of games to explore in some respects simply because there are so many developers and platforms to sift through.

For a sense of some of the natural atmospheres we’re referring to though, the broad selection of slots on Gala Spins provides a number of relevant examples in one place. In various ways, slot reels like Arthur And The Round Table, Buffalo Blitz, Animals Of The Amazon, Clover Rollover, and more all transport players to natural settings.

The effect, even in something as simple as an arcade slot game, can be somewhat mesmerizing.

Virtual Reality

It goes without saying that virtual reality is now presenting some of the most immersive video games of any kind. And inevitably, some of those games do a nice job of placing players in natural settings. It’s likely we haven’t seen the best of the concept in this category just yet, because VR gaming is still coming into its own a little bit.

But already, games like Catch And Release, The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim VR, and Nature Treks VR are quite effective at placing players in the natural world.

Climate-Conscious Games

This is not its own category akin to mainstream gaming, casino gaming, or VR. However, climate-conscious games do represent a sort of emerging genre.

These are games that are actually designed to make people more conscious of the natural world, and more inclined to take action to protect it. And already, there are some impressive examples.

The Verge lists Beyond Blue (an ocean exploration game), Endling (a game depicting the effects of climate negligence), and Bee Simulator (just what it sounds like) all as games representing this emerging space.

All do a wonderful job of immersing players in nature, as well as conveying the value of that nature.

Conclusion

Ultimately, to call these game worlds examples of biophilic design may be stretching things a little bit. But the effect of delving into these games can be similar. One can feel rejuvenated, and can in a sense re-establish a connection with nature.