Hole To Another Universe : How does Life Is Strange - Remastered: Episode 5 (Polarized) implement the final moral dilemma to challenge the boundaries of player agency?

This thesis examines how Life Is Strange: Remastered (DontNod, 2022) implements the final moral dilemma in Episode 5 (Polarized) to challenge the boundaries of player agency. The research focuses on the last major choice of the game, the final moral dilemma where the player has to choose between sacrificing Chloe or Arcadia Bay. The research question explores how implementing the final moral dilemma challenges the boundaries of meaningful player agency in a narrative driven, interactive context. The study uses the close reading (Bizzocchi & Tanenbaum, 2011) method analyzing the games mechanics and narrative. It implements a thought experiment the trolley problem (Thompson, 1976) and ethical frameworks like Kantian deontology (1785, 1788) and consequentialism (Moore, 1912) the doctrine of double effect (Foot, 2002) were applied to analyze the moral implications of player choices. The main findings indicate that whilst the time-rewind mechanic initially gives the player theoretical agency (Thue et al. 2010), during the final moral dilemma when this mechanic is removed, it makes the player heavily reliant on perceived agency (Thue et al. 2010). During the high tension final moral dilemma to the player is forced to confront and reflect on their moral consequences by letting go of their “safety net” of Max’s time rewind powers. This paper reveals how moral philosophies can be applied to Life Is Strange: Remastered (DontNod, 2022) and manipulate perception of player agency.