Video games are building worlds beyond the laws of physics
Video games are building worlds beyond the laws of physics
Video games are building worlds beyond the laws of physics
Dorsa Kafili, Ambrin Hasnain,
October, 07, 2025
Summary
Architects imagine both real and speculative structures, but video games allow these visionary designs to be experienced immersively. Games like Control, inspired by New York’s elusive 33 Thomas Street, transform mysterious or inaccessible architecture into interactive environments. Through “narrative architecture” and environmental storytelling, buildings shape plot, mood and player experience rather than serving as passive backdrops. Video games also free architecture from real-world constraints, enabling the realization of unreal or unbuildable concepts—from surreal, Escher-like spaces to radical visionary projects. A deeper collaboration between architects and game designers could expand creative possibilities for both fields.
Reference
Kafili, D., & Hasnain, A. (2025, October 7). Video games are building worlds beyond the laws of physics. Pursuit – University of Melbourne. https://pursuit.unimelb.edu.au/articles/video-games-are-building-worlds-beyond-the-laws-of-physics