Architecture and the narrative experience in video games: How architecture and architectural principles inspire and enhance the narrative experience in video games: A case study of 'Control' (2019)

Posted by Dawn Beaumont Cockcroft on 2026-09-07

How do the spaces we explore in video games shape the stories we experience? In a new article published in FIELDS, the relationship between architecture, environmental design, and narrative is explored through the critically acclaimed video game Control. While environmental design is a cornerstone of game development, the connections between architectural theory and video game storytelling remain relatively under-researched. Focusing on Control's striking use of Brutalist architecture, alongside influences drawn from United States government buildings, the work of Carlo Scarpa, and religious architecture, the article examines how physical space can communicate emotion, reinforce themes, and become an active participant in narrative. The result is a compelling exploration of how real-world architectural principles help create one of gaming's most distinctive and immersive storytelling experiences.

Researcher Ethan Kyle Knuckey provides the summary:

Environmental design is a fundamental part of video game development, with it also being a strong source of inspiration for the narrative form. Research into the marriage of architectural principles, video game narrative design, and narrative architecture is sorely underdeveloped despite being fertile ground for its potential in offering greater understanding of both topics. From this comes the topic of research. Control is a third-person action-adventure video game which uses to great effect the aesthetics and principles of Brutalism, with specific reference to government buildings in the United States, as well as the works of Carlos Scarpa and Religious architecture. The spatial and emotional effects of these architectures have a direct relationship with the themes of the game narrative, blending real world architectural inspirations with fantastical, reality-bending action and narrative to form a deeply unique and effecting experience.