Veronika Herníková

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Digital Faith: Religious Themes in Contemporary Game Culture What happens when mythology, spirituality, and digital technology meet on the world of video games?

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In recent years, video games have become not only a cultural phenomenon but also an unexpectedly vibrant space for religious themes, symbolism, and existential reflection. At the same time, they represent a surprisingly powerful medium for transmitting and reinterpreting religious ideas. The key figure in this process is the player – the one who, through interaction, becomes part of a spiritually oriented narrative, makes ethical decisions, and moves through digital worlds charged with symbolism. From characters inspired by deities to choices that mirror real-world moral dilemmas, the digital environment increasingly opens a space for engaging with religious questions. My presentation focuses on how contemporary narrative video games explore various forms of religion, faith, and mythology, and how the gaming environment shapes players’ perception of these themes. I examine how narrative structure and game mechanics together create a space in which players not only observe but actively participate in situations with spiritual significance. I am particularly interested in how players experience and interpret religious motifs and symbols in video games, especially in titles whose main storylines are closely connected to representations of religion. I explore what kinds of experiences players have, how they reflect upon them, and whether these experiences can extend into real life. At the same time, I focus on the central religious motifs and themes that shape the world of these games.