Beholder 3

In the multi-layered game Beholder 3, players experience first-hand what it’s like to be a cog in a surveillance state. The game world, reminiscent of the works of George Orwell, creates an oppressive atmosphere both behind and in front of the screen. The main character is forced to act as a spy for the government in a totalitarian system. Disguised as a landlord, players must spy on their own tenants and report any suspicious behaviour to their superiors, while at the same time caring for their own unsuspecting family in the midst of their own conflict. This conflict and moral dilemma are cleverly reflected in the gameplay: players are faced with difficult decisions in which their own survival in the tense environment of the totalitarian system is at stake, while at the same time moral behaviour is punished. The medium of gaming is used in a unique way here to convey this challenge, as players are not simply spectators of the events, but must consciously make unpleasant decisions. Beholder 3 is an entertainment game, but it has a lasting effect, provokes thought and makes us reflect.