Institut Teknologi Nasional Bandung

Analysis & Exploration of Emotional Attachment in Video Game Character Design: A Case Study of Life is Strange

This study explores the role of character design in fostering emotional attachment within narrative-driven video games, specifically focusing on the experiences of Indonesian adolescents.

• Integrating moral decision-making mechanics into gameplay significantly deepens player immersion by granting agency over character outcomes and increasing emotional investment.
• Character design elements—including specific color palettes, facial expressions, and symbolic accessories—are foundational to shaping how players perceive and relate to digital avatars.
• Characters like Max Caulfield and Chloe Price function as archetypes that mirror adolescent struggles, specifically addressing themes of identity formation, rebellion, and social anxiety.