Games+Learning+Society 11 Conference

He Was The Most... Human: Ethical Play in Doki Doki Universe
Kenneth Rosenberg

Doki Doki Universe is an adventure game in which players control QT3, a robot charged with the task of better understanding human nature. The narrative context of this game utilizes the modeling principle to teach players about prosocial behavior. Gameplay consists primarily of two systems: object-oriented, fetch-quest puzzles and personality quizzes. Players’ ethical agency is limited to dialogue choices and answers to personality questions that do not affect the overall story, but the game aggregates data from player choices in both systems to craft a personality profile which can be reviewed and modified. In this way, the game teaches reflection on empathy, logic, and personality traits. Though the game does not afford players moral agency, the game rules and world are still ethically relevant because they foster reflective practice of prosocial behavior.