Play as Preservation: Folklore and Mythology in The Mooseman

Abstract

This article focuses on and explores the intersection between game studies and folkloristics. Specifically, it considers The Mooseman, a game by Russian studio Morteshka, from the perspective of cultural preservation. It considers the way that the game represents the reconstructed Permian mythology, modeled after the metal castings in the Permian animal style, in its narrative, its audio-visuals, and its mechanics. It also considers the place of the game, as an artistic interpretation of an ongoing field of academic study, in the broader context of cultural preservation and heritage studies. To do this, it draws upon discourses in game studies, heritage studies, and folkloristics.