Conflict of Tradition and the Modern in Digital Video Game Narratives: The Case of Ghost of Tsushima
Abstract
The interaction between tradition and the modern is one of the most fundamental issues in social theory. Especially the art of narrative, which has diversified with the opportunities provided by new media technologies, has not remained indifferent to this issue. Game storytelling, as a digital narrative, has emerged as a medium for portraying the interaction between tradition and the modern. At this point, the study examines the thematic conflict between tradition and the modern in Ghost of Tsushima, a digital video game. Through the thematic axes established through the dialogues and character structures in the game, it is emphasized that this conflict serves as a narrative trigger. In the study, in which the thematic analysis method was preferred, three main themes were identified under the titles “honour as a traditional value versus the modern,” “traditional ethos versus modern ethos,” and “technological development and the tradition–modern conflict.” Based on this, the study found that the game Ghost of Tsushima explores the conflict between tradition and the modern across multiple dimensions, and that there are examples where this conflict is used as a functional element in digital narratives.
Keywords
References
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Details
Primary Language
English
Subjects
Communication Technology and Digital Media Studies
Journal Section
Research Article
Publication Date
June 11, 2026
Submission Date
May 8, 2025
Acceptance Date
November 10, 2025
Published in Issue
Year 2026 Number: 49