The art of war: examining the visual narratives of Ukrainian video games

Abstract

This article focuses on the visual narratives of Ukrainian war-themed video games, analysing how they depict the Russia-Ukraine war and contribute to the national narrative of resistance and resilience. Using cultural, structuralist and critical approaches, the research examines the portrayal of cultural heroes, chronotypes, values, and carnival mechanisms in these visual narratives. This article analyses how visual elements in Ukrainian video games reflect and respond to contemporary socio-political realities and how Ukrainian game developers navigate the complexities of their nation's history, memory, and identity while contributing to ongoing discourses surrounding resistance and resilience. The study identifies key Ukrainian narratives: the sanctity of Ukraine’s borders (map), new war topos, and the invasion-centred timeline; Ukraine’s global mission against evil; individual contributions to national victory; and the carnivalesque nature of the Ukrainian culture. Computer game narratives deconstruct enemy propaganda, highlight Ukraine's resilience, and inform the global community about events in Ukraine.