Time Loop Nihilism

Summary by Krater

An exploration of time loop video games like Deathloop and 12 Minutes, examining how they use repeated days to reveal character depth and discussing the lack of self-reflection in stories about consequence-free violence.

From the video

Answers: How do time loop video games handle narrative and consequences?

• time loop video games
• narrative design in Deathloop
• narrative design in 12 Minutes
• nihilism in video games
• consequences of violence in games

What it concludes

• Time loop video games give players a chance to think about the ramifications of actions with nuance.
• Deathloop creates an experience where the player and protagonist Colt share a close alignment of knowledge.
• Playing through time loop games feels like learning to speedrun a game by pushing rules until they break.
• Stories like Palm Springs and Groundhog Day keep characters internally focused and do not make them mass murderers.
• Through the Flash short story, a character lives through Deathloop for thousands of years and ultimately changes her worldview.