Episode 34: Games with Religious Themes, with Alice Connor
- Author
- Daniel Hilty & Kevin Taylor
- Published
- Sun 09 Jul 2023
- Episode Link
- https://boardgamefaith.fireside.fm/34
Alice is the author of several books. http://aliceconnor.com/#about-the-author. She also writes for Daily Worker Placement, including a series titled “Playing at Religion”, and co-hosts the podcast "Table Talk."
Defining a Religiously Themed Game
Your definition: “One whose theme is primarily but not exclusively exploring the practice, history, or theology of any religion or spiritual tradition.”
Some examples
- The Settlers of Zarahemla
- Ierusalem: Anno Domini
- Ezra and Nehemiah (forthcoming)
- Nicaea
What Makes a Great Religious-Themed Game?
- It succeeds at what it’s trying to do.
- It explores its theme complexly and appropriately for its weight.
- It is joyous.
- It comforts the player and/or exhorts them to a higher good.
Your hypothesis: “Games that tend to intend to convince the player of something tend to be worse than games that play in the space.”
What are Our Top 3 Religiously Themed Games?
Kevin: Frostpunk, Freedom: The Underground Railroad, Sleeping Gods
Daniel: Red Cathedral, Biblios, Heaven & Ale
Alice: Acts of the Evangelists, Nuns on the Run, Zen Tiles
Links:
