You’ve met With a Terrible Fate, where video game analysis is tackled using the tools of rigorous philosophy.
Learn about my work and myself here.
Or, forget about me — let’s get right to the analysis. Pick a game. Don’t like the offerings you see? Contact me on Facebook, Twitter, or at withaterriblefate@gmail.com. I take requests.
MOST RECENT ARTICLES
In the last installment of his Nudgy Controls series, Nathan Randall argues that critics were wrong to complain about the control mechanics of The Last Guardian.
In the first entry of his new series, “Now Loading,” Dan Hughes discusses whether Final Fantasy VII belongs in the video game canon.
New Featured Author Kent Vainio argues that the real hostage in the Zero Escape series is you.
Founder Aaron Suduiko critiques and updates his earliest, most popular work on Majora’s Mask.
Big changes are coming to With a Terrible Fate very soon. Read this letter from founder Aaron Suduiko about what you can expect.
New work discussing the avatar-player relations and iniquitous horror of Silent Hill 2, originally presented at PAX Aus 2016.
I argue that the avatar of Breath of the Wild isn’t as he seems.
Featured Author Nathan Randall presents the second part in his series on game mechanics’ role in storytelling.
Featured Author Laila Carter discusses her work from PAX Australia 2016 on the mythology behind horror video games.
I critique Ian Bogost’s recent article, which claimed that “video games are better without stories.”
I argue that consciousness NieR: Automata is linked to the player in a metaphysically deep, important, and surprising way.
Featured Author Nathan Randall develops a new theory of control schemes in video game storytelling.
With a Terrible Fate presents a new theory of video games.
With a Terrible Fate discussed science, philosophy, and video games at PAX East 2017. Check out a film of our whole presentation.
Game Catalogue
- Legend of Zelda: Â Majora’s Mask
- Xenoblade Chronicles
- Nier
- BioShock Infinite
- Batman: Arkham
- Dark Souls
- Bloodborne
- Dishonored
- Final Fantasy
- Kingdom Hearts
- The Stanley Parable
- The Beginner’s Guide
- Deus Ex: Human Revolution
- Conventions
- Meta-Commentary and Theory
- Featured Authors
All work on this site, except where otherwise noted, is the work, intellectual property, and copyright of Aaron Suduiko.
With a Terrible Fate 
Thankfulness to my father who told me on the topic of this web site, this blog is
genuinely remarkable.
LikeLike
Thank you for your kind words — I hope you continue to enjoy my work.
LikeLike
Continue the good work man, this is amazing
LikeLike
Thanks a lot, Frank — very glad you’re enjoying my work.
LikeLike
Spectacular site! I love game analysis; I feel like we can study games the way we do literature and cinema and truly gain from it by viewing them as art.
There are so many games that have such deep themes and stories and designs, and there is much to say about them. Wonderful job bringing light to the discussion that we can have about games! I hope to one day start writing my own thoughts and analyses on my favorite games, and posting those short essays somewhere to fuel the conversation about those games just as you have.
LikeLike
Thank you for your kind words, Gonzalez! Always thrilled to meet someone else interested in game analysis. Feel free to email at withaterriblefate@gmail.com if you ever want to continue the conversation, or share your own work with me.
LikeLike
This site does things I’ve wanted to see done for video games for quite a long while, and I’m very happy to see it.
If I may make a request, I’ve recently played through a game called Evoland 2, and there are elements to that game’s plot that reminded me of some of the thoughts put forth in the Majora’s Mask analysis. In fact, the two games have something in common that’s not immediately obvious. I’m curious what your thoughts might be on that, but at the same time I don’t want to spoil the surprise for anyone who hasn’t played it already.
The game might also be an interesting object of study because it intertwines gameplay and plot in a unique way by actually shifting what genre of game it is at various points in the story.
LikeLike
Thank you for your kind words and request, Xindaris. I will aim to take a look at Evoland 2 personally, as soon as time permits.
LikeLike
Loved the Dark Souls analysis, excellent insight and a really fantastic exploration of Lordran’s universe. I’ve found DS to be an intensely deep experience, at a gaming level, a narrative level, and at an introspective level. The nihilistic/transcendental approach you took to analyzing it is fascinating and remarkably well approached. It was a very insightful read that I’m grateful to have stumbled across. Thank you for providing yet another aspect of such a fantastic game.
LikeLike
Thank you for your kind words, Daemon9623. I, too, see Dark Souls as a tremendously valuable game with many layers, and am excited to see what comes of Dark Souls III. I’m glad you’re enjoying my work; I hope you are able to check out some of my other analyses as well.
LikeLike
Hey man, really cool stuff! I see primarily single-player oriented games here. Ever consider competitive games for analysis? I play super smash bros melee and destiny competitively, even at national level, and it’s certainly multifaceted. You should consider!
LikeLike
Thank you for your kind words, Dave! I don’t play games competitively myself (not well, at least), but I know enough about the competitive gaming domain to know that it certainly raises interesting philosophical issues–issues that are far more complicated than single-player games in virtue of there being more than one player, which is in large part why I have stayed silent on the matter. However, I am hoping that will soon change. In particular, one of our featured authors (I won’t say who just yet) is incredibly proficient at Super Smash Brothers Melee, and I am hoping we may be able to see work on a subject like that very soon.
LikeLike
I just wanted to say I was at the panel you guys presented at PAX AUS and it was amazing. Have been going through all the content on here after that. Thank you guys for making the trip down to Melbourne. Was very enlightening.
LikeLike
Thank you for your kind words, TheHairyGamer. So glad you enjoyed the panel and that you’re enjoying the site. Stay tuned for new content, and please do spread the word about us if you can!
LikeLike
Excellent article, good to see unique content we can all forward between all users. I do as make tutorials and videos for others, if you have Instagram I would be happy to have you as fan : https://www.instagram.com/earthbydrones Have a good day! Earth By Drones Com Jose
LikeLike