Introduction to video game architecture and its relationship with materiality

Knowledge of material architecture is not just useful baggage for developers and game designers, it is the foundation on which deep and compelling game environments are built. Here's why:

Why is material architecture important for game design?

• Emotional Impact Architecture affects the player's mood - narrow passages cause anxiety, high ceilings give a sense of grandeur. Knowing these effects allows you to consciously manage your emotions.

• Rhythm and movement The layout of the space sets the pace: long corridors slow the player down, open areas speed up movement. This is critical for gameplay balance.

• Symbolism and Narrative Architectural elements can tell a story – crumbling columns hint at past glory, cramped cells speak of oppression. Visual storytelling begins with forms and materials.

• Immersion and Realism Materiality is texture, lighting, wear. When a player sees stonework or metal, it is important that it “feels” real. This enhances immersion.

• Architecture and game design are inextricably linked. Architectural decisions can influence mechanics (like the hidden passages in Dishonored) and emotions (the pressure of the closed corridors in Dead Space).

  Why is this important? What does this give to the developer?

• Helps to understand how the visual environment influences behavior and perception

• Opens the way to new forms of storytelling and learning

• Brings together architects, artists, writers and programmers in a single creative process

• Better interaction with artists Understanding architectural principles makes it easier to communicate with environment artists: you can speak the same language about light, scale and rhythm.

• Optimizing Level Design Architecture is not just about facades, but also about structure: how the player moves, how the view is restricted, where the climaxes occur.

• Creating a unique visual style The deeper you know the styles and eras (Gothic, Art Nouveau, High-tech), the brighter and more original your worlds.

Modern video games have long gone beyond simple entertainment and have become a powerful means of artistic expression. One of the key aspects that gives games depth and expressiveness is the architecture of game worlds. Architecture in games is not just a visual background, but an active participant in the gameplay, shaping the atmosphere, influencing the player's emotions and guiding their behavior. Games are becoming architectural experiences, where space is a language, and playing the game is a path through an architectural narrative.

As in real architecture, in games it is not just what is built that matters, but how it feels. Spaces in games are designed to evoke certain feelings in the player: anxiety, security, excitement, loneliness. Narrow corridors with low ceilings create claustrophobia, while open landscapes with dramatic horizons inspire a sense of freedom and epicness. These emotions are not accidental - the architecture of the game world is built according to the same principles as in real life, using proportion, light, scale, rhythm and material as expressive means.

Many game studios hire or consult with architects to create authentic or fantastical, yet compelling worlds. For example, the Assassin's Creed series is known for its precision in recreating cities of the past, where players not only participate in the action, but "live" inside the story. Dark Souls and Bloodborne create a narrative through space: city streets, temples, dungeons are not only beautiful, but also "speak" to the player through their tectonics, scale, desolation or grandeur.

The player's movement in space is of particular importance. Architecture in a game is not only aesthetics, but also a script. The player, like an actor, moves along a "stage" thought out in advance by game designers. With the help of lighting, perspective, restrictions and visual accents, the player can be directed, slowed down, surprised. Thus, space becomes a director: it does not simply provide freedom, but subtly controls it.

In addition, games allow you to experience the impossible in reality: visiting cities of the future, abandoned alien stations, flying castles or underwater civilizations. Here, architecture becomes an instrument of transcendental experience, expanding the idea of the surrounding world. At the same time, even the most fantastic spaces are subject to the logic of architectural expression in order to remain convincing.

Games as architectural experiences are a synthesis of art, technology and spatial thinking. They allow us not only to look at a building, but to live in it, to explore, to make mistakes, to return. They make architecture interactive, emotional and deeply personal. In the age of digital worlds, architecture is becoming not only material but also virtual – and it is in games that it reveals its potential as a medium capable of creating real experiences.

In video games, architecture not only plays an aesthetic or functional role, but also becomes a powerful emotional trigger. The space, shape, and atmosphere of a location directly affect the player’s perception, evoking certain feelings and associations. This makes architecture an important tool for dramaturgy and engagement in the gameplay.

Closed, dark rooms, narrow corridors, unstable lighting and oppressive silence create an atmosphere of anxiety and tension. Such techniques are especially characteristic of horror games like Silent Hill or Dead Space, where the architecture itself becomes part of the threat. The player feels vulnerable not because of the enemies, but because of the environment itself, where every turn can hide danger. The space becomes hostile and emotionally weighs on the player, increasing the effect of fear.

On the other hand, monumental halls, vast panoramic views and spacious architectural compositions evoke awe and a sense of grandeur. In Journey or Skyrim, architecture emphasizes the scale of the world and the significance of what is happening. Here, space acts as a catalyst for admiration, making the player feel part of something grand. Light, scale, symmetry and rhythm in such locations are aimed at evoking a sense of awe.

A special place is occupied by nostalgia - a subtle feeling awakened by recognizable architectural forms, styles or cultural references. Games like Assassin's Creed reproduce historical buildings with a high degree of authenticity, creating the effect of "presence in the past." In Yakuza, players are immersed in the atmosphere of a Japanese city of the late 20th century, where every sign, alley and shop revives cultural memory. Architecture becomes a bridge between reality and imagination, causing an emotional response even without active interaction.

Thus, architecture in games is not just decoration, but an active participant in the emotional experience. Through form, scale, light and style, it directly affects the player’s senses, enhancing immersion and making the experience deeper and richer.

Example

In Dark Souls, the architecture of Gothic cathedrals is more than just a backdrop - it creates a sense of loneliness, oppression, and awe, forming the central theme of the game.