On Soulsring Worlds: Narrative Complexity, Digital Communities, and Interpretation in Dark Souls and Elden Ring

On Soulsring Worlds is the first book-length study to explore how FromSoftware games reconcile extreme difficulty with broad appeal. It argues that the games are strategically positioned in relation to contemporary audiences and designed to tap into the new forms of interpretation afforded by digital media. It delivers an object lesson on the value of narrative and complexity in digital play and interpretive practices.

Format: Hardback
Length: 118 pages
Publication date: 26 February 2024
Publisher: Taylor & Francis Ltd

FromSoftware's Dark Souls and Elden Ring series are explored in depth in the book "On Soulsring Worlds," which examines how they manage to combine challenging gameplay and storytelling. The author contends that the games are strategically positioned to appeal to modern audiences and take advantage of the new forms of interpretation provided by digital media. The book places the games in the context of several ongoing debates, including those about posthumanism and the ethics of gameplay. It offers valuable insights into the importance of narrative and complexity in digital play and the interpretive practices it engenders.

Drawing on narrative theory, game studies, and nonhuman-oriented philosophy, the book appeals to students and scholars of game studies, media studies, narratology, and video game ethnography. It provides a comprehensive and interdisciplinary examination of these games, offering a deeper understanding of their cultural significance and impact.

Overall, "On Soulsring Worlds" is a must-read for anyone interested in the world of video games and the ways in which they shape our understanding of narrative, gameplay, and the human experience.

Weight: 298g
Dimension: 147 x 224 x 14 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781032683997