Geographies of the Underworld: Chthonic Embodiment and Game Worlds

The mythic underworlds present in many cultures are embodied places where the dead dwell with spirits and gods, and in their conception, perspective and role these underworlds are virtual worlds that pre-date digital technology. The underworld has also appeared widely in video games throughout their much shorter history. This presence occurs in games across genres and audiences, indicating that underworld elements offer formal sympathies with digital game structures and experiences.