Monash students have reflected on identity, culture and society through the immersive worlds of their favourite video games.
As video games captivate millions worldwide, Monash students are exploring what these game environments can reveal about their sense of self and the complexities of real-life society.
Virtual worlds have become more than entertainment or escape.
Through different games, each student has discovered new perspectives on themselves, the environment and the nature of humanity.
Bachelor of Finance student Yijun Cheng finds himself drawn to the world of Red Dead Redemption 2, an action-adventure game set in 1899 America.
Cheng said he was captivated by the game’s realistic portrayal of nature, recalling moments when the visuals transported him beyond gameplay into genuine emotional experiences.
"Riding a horse across snowy mountains or watching a sunset over open plains is breathtaking," Cheng said.
"These are peaceful moments that rarely exist in my everyday life."
Yet, Cheng noted the game environment went beyond mere visual relaxation, providing sharp insights into historical and social realities.
"The game vividly captures issues like social inequality and rapid industrialisation,” he said.
“It even accurately portrays Chinese labourers building railroads, this historical detail often overlooked by Western media.”
Cheng admitted it would be tough to survive in such a challenging historical setting,
"I might struggle at first due to the harshness of the Wild West, but given time, I think I’d adapt by becoming a hunter or running a small hotel," Cheng said.
He also noted the emotional connection he formed with the protagonist, Arthur Morgan, an outlaw living in the American West at the end of the 19th century.
"When Arthur died, it wasn't just the death of a game character. It genuinely felt like losing someone close, a companion who I'd come to deeply care about." Cheng said
His story is a journey of redemption and humanity.
Arthur Morgan doesn't get a perfect ending, but it’s precisely because he chooses kindness amidst chaos and darkness that countless players are moved to tears.
He becomes more than a game character—he becomes, for many, that person who "still looks up at the stars even while standing in the mud."
Master of Professional Accounting student Zhiqi Yang finds his personal reflections in the fantasy realm of World of Warcraft, particularly within its "Sunwell" expansion.
Yang said his first encounters with this Western-style fantasy game brought a profound "cultural shock," contrasting sharply with Eastern narratives.
"In traditional Chinese fantasy, stories usually emphasise personal growth and harmony with nature," Yang said.
"But Warcraft emphasises destiny, struggle, and sacrifice. It felt entirely new."
He vividly recalled the Sunwell environment, a sacred energy source corrupted by overuse, causing widespread decay.
"The storyline of the Sunwell mirrors how society depends on resources to a dangerous degree," Yang said.
"The elves' dependence on this energy ultimately leads to their corruption, much like how people today depend heavily on limited resources, often at great cost."
Yang also reflected on how the game’s mechanics allowed him to explore his fears without real-world consequences.
"I did things in-game I’d never attempt in real life, like leaping off flying mounts or standing on cliff edges to enjoy the view,” he said.
“Even if I fall, I can revive by finding my soul and body.”
Yang emphasised the importance of real connections despite being transported into an unreal world.
"Ultimately, reality offers stability and genuine human relationships," he said.
"Games give perspective, not replacement."
Bachelor of Banking and Finance student Dongjie Liu prefers a different gaming experience.
His favourite, Russian Fishing 4, offers realistic fishing environments closely modelled on real-world locations.
Liu said he particularly enjoyed the Volkhov River environment within the game, a detailed map that provided a sense of authenticity and solitude.
"As someone who can't regularly go fishing due to my busy life, this environment allows me to experience a realistic version of something I love," Liu said.
The virtual fishing world even led Liu to reflect on environmental issues.
“Many real fishing spots today are no longer this beautiful because of pollution and overfishing,” Liu said.
“The game preserves an ideal version of nature for me.”
Liu was pragmatic when asked if he could survive permanently in his virtual fishing environment.
"I could survive comfortably because it closely matches reality," he said.
"My only concern would be earning enough money."
But despite his love for virtual fishing, Liu still firmly preferred real life.
"Real life has my family and friends. Those relationships matter most," he said.
Cheng, Yang and Liu’s experience highlights a distinct but profound insight - virtual environments are more than simply beautiful or engaging visuals.
They are powerful platforms reflecting real-world social, cultural, and environmental dynamics.
The historical realism and emotional depth in Red Dead Redemption 2 provided Cheng with insights into society and self.
The philosophical richness of World of Warcraft provoked Yang to question his identity and cultural understanding.
The detailed realism of Russian Fishing 4 evoked a reflection from Liu on environmental sustainability and daily life.
Their experiences align with expert recognition of video games as culturally and socially significant.
Professor Nina Fefferman from the University of Tennessee studied how game environments like World of Warcraft can reveal how people respond to real-world crises.
When a virtual plague known as "Corrupted Blood" unintentionally spread through the game in 2005, some players fled, helped others, or ignored safety measures, which mirrored panic, altruism, and defiance seen in actual epidemics.
The deep engagement of gameplay shows that virtual worlds are more than just escapes; they are spaces for thoughtful and personal discovery.
"The real power of a game isn't the mechanics, but whether it evokes genuine emotion and thought," Yang said.
Cheng echoed this view.
"Games allow us to experience lives we've never lived and might never live, yet through them, we gain a deeper understanding of our own world."
