Can videogames be a form of poetry? It’s a provocative question that challenges the traditional boundaries between art forms. While poetry is often seen as a medium for introspection and cultural critique, videogames are typically associated with industrialism, consumerism, and resource consumption—more often about conquering worlds than contemplating them. However, these assumptions can be subverted.
Over the past several years, Jordan Magnuson has explored the concept of “videogame poems,” using open-source tools to craft digital experiences that prioritize reflection over reaction, symbolism over spectacle. These small, minimalist games resist the industry’s obsession with complexity and high-fidelity graphics, focusing instead on human context, connection, and the rhythms of everyday life. By embracing short-form expression, open-source technologies, and sustainable design principles, these videogame poems not only challenge traditional game design but also contribute to a more resource-efficient and accessible digital culture.
Drawing from their recently published open-access book, Game Poems: Videogame Design as Lyric Practice, Magnuson will explain the concept of a “videogame poem,” and advocate for why it is an accessible and sustainable form of creative practice that anyone can (and should!) engage with as we seek new forms of artistic expression and cultural critique in the digital age.
Jordan Magnuson is an experimental game designer and new media artist who seeks to challenge and push out expectations around videogames. Jordan’s serious games, art games, “notgames,” and “game poems” have been featured by Wired, PC Gamer, Le Monde, and others, shown at festivals and exhibitions around the world, and nominated for a variety of awards including the New Media Writing Prize and the IndieCade Grand Jury Award. Jordan is currently Senior Lecturer in Games and Media Art at the University of Southampton, and 2024-25 Fulbright Fellow in Digital Culture at the University of Bergen.
