Steps to Avoid Casual Colonialism in Design

In game design, it’s essential to be mindful of how we portray different cultures and historical events. Casual colonialism, even when unintentional, can perpetuate harmful stereotypes and erase the experiences of marginalized communities. By taking a critical look at our assumptions and biases, however, we can create games that are both entertaining and respectful of diverse perspectives and histories.

The techniques here are based on the principles discussed in Casual Empires: A Look at Casual Colonialism.

General recommendations

Avoiding problematic tropes requires intentional choices, from the stories we tell to the mechanics we employ. Yet we naturally overlook ingrained patterns and assumptions in our daily lives. Through embracing diverse perspectives and more inclusive development practices, however, we can challenge our existing approaches and uncover opportunities for improvement.

A picture of a generic pixel-art caveman, not a with any game. — Image courtesy of robuart

Here are some recommendations to identify and remove colonial narratives from your games:

Increase cultural awareness and sensitivity — Educate your team through workshops, discussions, and resources on colonialism and its impacts. Consult with cultural advisors or experts with lived experience in the cultures you’re portraying. Encourage diverse perspectives within your development team to challenge assumptions and blind spots.
Re-examine common tropes — Break away from stereotypical portrayals of “noble savages,” “wise elders,” or “exotic” cultures. Craft complex characters from non-Westernized groups with agency and nuanced motivations. Don’t default to the “white savior” narrative and explore stories that highlight local strengths, resilience, and the complexity of conflicts.
Contextualize, don’t exoticize — Provide meaningful context and backstory to cultural elements, avoiding superficial or inaccurate representations. Isolating cultural elements from their context strips them of their richness and meaning, resulting in shallow portrayals that can feel exploitative or disrespectful.
Offer alternative narratives — Include viewpoints from those affected by colonialism, not just the colonizers or adventurers. Explore the lasting legacies and societal impacts of colonialism. Consider scenarios where players side with those resisting colonization, fostering empathy and understanding.
Consider impact not intent — Even well-meaning homages can cause harm if not carefully executed. Evaluate the potential impact of your design choices on players, regardless of your intentions. Seek feedback from diverse communities to identify potential blind spots.
Celebrate success — Highlight games that successfully challenge harmful tropes and portray diverse cultures respectfully. Share these examples within the industry and with the public to inspire others and demonstrate that responsible design is achievable.
Focus on your “why” — Clarify the core story you want to tell and why it matters. This focus can help you avoid relying on tropes that don’t serve your narrative. Similarly, perpetuating stereotypes is not only irresponsible, it also limits the creative potential of your game.

Importantly, collaborating with members of the represented cultures throughout this process ensures a deeper understanding, fostering more nuanced and authentic portrayals. Ideally, this is a mutually beneficial process that enriches both the creative work and the understanding between different communities.

Tips for smaller studios

If you are a small studio and with limited time and resources, you may not have the benefit of a dedicated person, team, or even the funds to work with sensitivity consultants. This can make ensuring responsible representation of sensitive themes feel daunting or even inaccessible.

Screenshot of Game Dev Tycoon — *Game Dev Tycoon.* Image courtesy of press kit.

Here are some specific recommendations if you work at a small studio:

Rightsize the investment — Even identifying simple perspective shifts can disrupt harmful tropes. Consider whether antagonists from marginalized groups need to be enemies, or if they can be allies or neutral parties. Question the need for a “hero” to “discover” and “save” cultures.
Be transparent with your audience — Acknowledge your limitations and express your commitment to respectful representation. Welcome feedback from players and be open to improving in future iterations. While transparency is important, be sure to prioritize actively addressing concerns rather than using your studio’s size as a shield for problematic content.
Look for indie-friendly consultants — When engaging sensitivity consultants, consider those who specialize in working with indie and small studios, as their pricing structures may better align with your budget. Many larger consultancies also offer tiered pricing or sliding scales, so don’t hesitate to inquire about options that fit your financial needs.
Leverage the community — Seek feedback from online forums, developer communities, and individuals with relevant cultural backgrounds. Don’t hesitate to ask for help and guidance. If someone helps you, ensure you recognize their contributions in your credits, and look for other ways to say thank you like game keys, custom assets, or other small tokens of appreciation.
- When working with volunteers, be upfront about your budget constraints and the volunteer nature of the work. Clearly define roles, responsibilities, and expectations. Avoid overpromising rewards or future compensation you might not be able to deliver. Lastly, check in regularly with volunteers to ensure they aren’t feeling overwhelmed or burnt out. Offer support and flexibility, and encourage them to take breaks when needed. Create a safe space for them to voice concerns or feedback.

An important role for platforms and publishers

Platforms and publishers also play a vital role in fostering a more inclusive and ethical game industry that is infrequently acknowledged. They can actively champion cultural sensitivity by:

Establishing clear expectations — Develop and communicate comprehensive guidelines on avoiding harmful stereotypes and cultural appropriation in games.
Providing proactive support — Offer resources such as sensitivity consultations, workshops, and educational materials to empower developers in creating culturally respectful content. This can especially benefit smaller studios, who may not have the resources to fully explore the themes they’re interested in.
Amplifying diverse voices — Prioritize and promote games that exemplify inclusive representation and diverse perspectives. Similarly, if you promote influencers, focus on those who are values-aligned.
Driving accountability — Foster a culture of ongoing learning and improvement by requiring developers to engage with provided resources and address potential concerns before release.

This approach not only supports developers in creating more thoughtful and respectful content but also sends a clear message to the industry that cultural sensitivity is a fundamental value.

Ultimately, good is about evolving industry standards, not chasing perfection. Openness to learning and continuous improvement will allow us to create more ethical, inclusive, and historically conscious games.

Now what?

The report Decolonizing play: Exploring frameworks for game design free of colonial values from the 2023 Polaris Game Design retreat has an excellent deep dive into how to support post-colonialist design with some concrete examples.

See the related content below for more!