Abstract

The First-Person Walker genre is defined by minimal player interactions, a deliberate slow
pacing of the game play, and ambiguous goals. These distinct characteristics of FirstPerson
Walkers challenge how we may consider a digital game. As such, there is a gap in
understanding the design attributes that contribute to the unique game experiences afforded
by ‘Walkers’. We conduct a player experience study of four Walker games, Gone Home,
Dear Esther, Proteus, and The Stanley Parable. From our analysis we discuss four distinct
design themes specific to the Walker game experience: 1) player interaction, 2) temporal
space, 3) player focus, and 4) ambiguity. We consider how each of these themes can be
used to enhance the design of First-Person Walker player experiences.