Fighting Against Return: A Taxonomy of Time Loops in Digital Games

This research outlines a foundational taxonomy for time loops in digital games, specifically focusing on instances where character rebirth occurs after a "game over" state. The core thesis posits that while players retain memory of failed attempts, characters often experience a reset, creating a "failure-improvement cycle." However, the study highlights a distinct category of games where characters narratively remember previous deaths, leading to a "Meta-Loop" that influences narrative progression.

The scope of the research is global, drawing on academic literature and case studies from various developers and publishers. The methodology involves analyzing the interplay between time and "navigable spaces" within game design. Three primary typologies of (space-)time loops are proposed. The "no-time-morphology loop" features characters retaining memory through rebirths in procedurally generated, morphologically changing spaces, exemplified by Dead Cells and Returnal. The "timing-exploration loop" involves characters retaining memory and exploring the same navigable space with new stimuli after a temporal reset, as seen in Outer Wilds and Twelve Minutes. Finally, the "hybrid loop" combines elements of both, where environments maintain basic morphology but require significant spatial manipulation and exploratory practices without a diegetic time limit, with Deathloop and Alan Wake 2 serving as examples.

The taxonomy acknowledges its non-exhaustive nature, anticipating further hybrid forms or additional categories due to the continuous evolution of gameplay and narrative in digital games. The research draws upon a range of academic sources from 1981 to 2024, covering game design, narrative theory, and the philosophy of time and space in interactive media.