Björn Fritz
Experiencing Gameworlds. Understanding Zelda and Mario Through the Lenses of Art History and Phenomenology
2025 | 207 p. | English

ISBN: 978-91-8104-441-6, 978-91-8104-442-3

This book invites readers on a journey through digital landscapes where art history meets gameplay and where the experience of space, movement and vision echoes centuries of artistic tradition.
Focusing on The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild and Super Mario Odyssey as examples, the author draws surprising connections between Renaissance painting, Baroque perspective and the immersive worldbuilding of 3D game worlds. What happens when we look at game spaces not just as entertainment, but as environments with esthetic meaning?

With a background in art history and an interest in phenomenology, the author explores:
• how players enter and are immersed in virtual landscapes
• how games build meaning through atmosphere, place and architecture
• how games create a feeling of having been there inside the gameworld

This engaging and thought-provoking book is for anyone curious about how video
games shape our perceptions, and how art helps us understand the experiences
we have while playing games.