Thesis

The game, Your Turn to Die, is a psychological horror adventure game, where the characters’ choices cannot be defined as good or bad, and it reflects real life situations. For example, Ranmaru and Sara, characters who reflect us as the players, are put into moral dilemmas where they have to deal with the consequences of their choices and morals. The game uses the characters’ relationships to show the emotional turmoil of their choices, which can also be seen in real life. Also, Ranmaru, a mirror for the players, is put in scenarios where his philosophy on loyalty and trust is tested. To add on, the game puts the players in a corner by also challenging their own morals and how it manipulates us through the narrative. Lastly, a key point is the message of the game, it shows us the stages of grief through the main character, Sara, and it shows how difficult it can be to move on.

The Moral and Emotional Stress of Our Choices

In the game Your Turn to Die, the death of Joe in Chapter 1 affected Sara heavily . As seen in Chapter 2, the choices she makes are influenced by guilt and also grief. We can see this parallel to real life, where when we lose someone dear to us, it feels like we lost apart of ourselves. It's seen in times where Sara forced to play more games for the Main one in Chapter 1.

Every choice is an important one in the game. The games lets us think on our choices, the same way Sara has to (Viveros). As she is affected by her best friend's death, the choices she makes are even more diffuculkt for her. This shows how loss can affect the choices we make and the path to moving on.

How Players are Tricked by the Narrative

Testing Our Own Morals and Ethics

The game test us, the players, on our own morals, like who to sacrifice, who's philosophy's is the right one to follow, and their ethics. The game gives us "choices" on whether we want to be on the emotional or logical path. Because of this, they're forced to either save a character they like or choose the latter who benefits the group(Plasmyte). Depending on this, the game has multiple endings, which also judges the player for their ideals.

This can be seen in real life, where we are troubles with choosing what feels right versus what makes more sense. In that way, the game manipulates the player, and makes them reflect on the situations where neither choice is cut-clear.

How Ranmaru Reflects the Players

Following up with that,Ranmaru Kageyama, reflects the moral issues the players have to deal with. With a focus on loyalty and betrayal, he has to choose between being loyal to others or his own survival. This is a foil for the players, who needs to make choices, where feelings and logic can't be together.

The choices Ranmaru makes are made with the desire to live and also grief from losing his friends (Baofu). Like him, the player faces difficult dilemmas which test their values. His character shows how complicated it is to either be loyal or betray, in risky situations (Melancholiholic). In short this relates to the overall message of the game, where things like sacrifice, survival and grief forces us to stop and reflect on it.

Grief and the Difficulty of Moving On

The game shows us this through Sara. As she refuses to move on from the deaths she’s seen, we can be it have an affect on her psychological state. It slows her progress and self in a way where she develops hallucinations of her best friend. The game is basically showing that even in dire situations of life-or-death, one's judgement could be affected (Viveros).This shows how a character’s issues could relate to one’s own. Because the choices we make through the game is both about life and death, and also the dealing with grief.

Conclusion

The game uses its characters, mechanics and story to portray experiences we could have in real life. It shows us this through Sara and also Ranmaru, both who brings the question of sacrifice, morals, and grief into the player’s heads. It allows you to reflect on it as it mirrors real life in those aspects.

About Me

Hello!!! I've always liked horror media, especially focused around psychological horror. As it shows a new side of the characters. It reflects the society outside of online spaces and in a way, with it becoming realistic, it's disturbing.

Works Cited:

https://www.youtube.com/watchv=70F6LZVPWv0&ab_channel=Melancholiholic

https://store.steampowered.com/app/2067780/Your_Turn_To_Die_Death_Game_By_Majority/

https://www.reddit.com/r/yourturntodie/comments/ppm3ew/ranmaru_and_yttds_whole_meaning/?rdt=49767

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pNRLolV6PL4&ab_channel=Plasmyte

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4IMDHT5K89o&ab_channel=Viveros