Thanks to the kind editors at Unwinnable Magazine, I got to write my dream essay about Elden Ring.
In “The Environmental Horror of Elden Ring,” I discuss how the ongoing disaster of the hellish Caelid region provides an interesting counterpoint to the common characterization of postapocalyptic spaces as green and beautiful. For me, Caelid was a gateway into an exploration of how and why the aftermaths of environmental catastrophes are often presented as utopian in digital spaces, and I think Elden Ring subtly reflects the frustration that many of us feel toward power structures that remove us from direct stewardship of the nature that surrounds us in real life.
If you’re interested, you can find the full essay in the March 2023 issue of Unwinnable, and you can check out a substantial excerpt on the magazine’s website (here). I’ve also archived a PDF of the article (here).
Digital Fantasy Diary 