The Path of Peace: Non-Violent Methods of Play in Indie Video Game History

This research project investigates the cultural and historical significance of independently published Japanese bullet-hell/danmaku games from the 2000s and 2010s. This project highlights gaps in current game histories, particularly surrounding the influence of these games on heralded contemporary titles like Undertale (2015). The significance of independently published “doujin” Japanese digital media, notably the Touhou Project series, is often overlooked in American game studies contexts. Examining these underexplored games aims to enrich the understanding of cultural-historical games research, particularly in positioning lesser-known and lower-budget games, and contribute to the broader discourse on cross-cultural interactions within the gaming community. Comparative analyses of non-violent gameplay mechanics across different titles, with this cultural context at the forefront, allow us to build a deeper understanding of player and developer engagement with violence and pacifism. Ultimately, this work aims to bridge the American and Japanese cultural representations of non-violent play to better understand the history of this genre better.