Puppets - Games

In games, puppets symbolize player agency and narrative control. They represent avatars manipulated directly by players, from platformer heroes to RPG protagonists, embodying the core interactive fantasy. Beyond literal characters, puppet mechanics appear in strategy games where units follow orders, or in puzzle titles where players rearrange elements. Thematically, puppets explore free will versus determinism, often in stories about manipulated characters or dystopian societies. Visually, puppet-like designs, with exaggerated joints or strings, enhance stylistic cohesion and emotional resonance, making abstract control tangible. This concept underscores gaming's unique power: turning passive observation into active puppeteering.