The year 2020 remains etched in our collective memory as the moment the world stuttered to a halt. It was a period of global stasis that reshaped our reality in ways we are still struggling to articulate.
A five-year milestone occupies a strange psychological space—it is neither contemporary news nor distant history. While the immediate chaos of the COVID-19 pandemic has receded, its legacy persists through enduring scars. We feel its presence in the sudden anxiety of a positive test kit, the weight of chronic fatigue, and the escalating skepticism toward public health in the United States. It haunts the quiet spaces at our dinner tables where loved ones once sat. Even for those exhausted by the discourse, the work of unpacking this era’s profound impact has only just begun.
Due to the protracted nature of modern game development, 2025 became a watershed year for titles that serve as unintentional time capsules. Several major releases, conceived and crafted during the height of the lockdowns, finally reached the public, bearing the unmistakable imprint of their origin. These games explore themes of mass mortality and profound isolation, not merely as plot points, but as a way to process the trauma of the early 2020s and contemplate how we move forward.
Image: Sandfall Interactive/Kepler InteractiveThe most prominent example of this “pandemic-era” design is Clair Obscur: Expedition 33. While it lacks a literal virus, its allegorical ties to the pandemic are unmistakable. In the realm of Lumière, a celestial entity known as the Paintress paints a number in the sky each year; anyone of that age is instantly vaporized into crimson petals. This haunting visual creates a chilling introduction, depicting a thriving society decimated in a heartbeat—a visceral reflection of the sudden losses experienced in 2020.
The game’s narrative focuses on the lasting psychological toll of this recurring catastrophe. The protagonists grapple with deep-seated trauma after witnessing the erasure of their families. There is a palpable sense of dread in Lumière as citizens realize they are eventually next on the Paintress’s list. This “Gommage” is an existential threat that forces the survivors to launch desperate yearly expeditions to stop the cycle. It portrays the heavy burden of duty and grief, mirroring the exhaustion of those who fought to sustain society while mourning their own losses.
This dynamic recalls the darkest chapters of the pandemic, where humanity raced to develop solutions while death tolls fluctuated wildly. While some grew cynical or abandoned collective safety, many others made profound personal sacrifices to protect the future. Clair Obscur serves as a reminder that reworking our lives during a crisis is an act of defiance and love. It argues that the ability to move on is only possible because of those who refused to surrender to despair.
Image: Obsidian Entertainment/Xbox StudiosObsidian’s Avowed tackles the pandemic from a more socio-political angle. In the “Living Lands,” a fungal blight known as the Dreamscourge transforms living beings into mindless monsters. The societal reaction within the game mirrors the polarization of our own world: some characters retreat into total isolation, while others dismiss the danger entirely. This breakdown in social cohesion sets the stage for the game’s true antagonist.
The Steel Garrote, a militant authoritarian group led by Inquisitor Lödwyn, exploits this instability to seize power. They do not aim to cure the blight; rather, they use the resulting fear to impose a fascist regime under the pretense of “restoring order.” The player’s journey is not just a quest for a remedy, but a resistance against those who weaponize public suffering for political leverage.
The parallels to modern governance are startling. Avowed illustrates how institutional power can thrive in the vacuum created by collective trauma. It evokes the memory of post-9/11 policies where surveillance and conflict were justified through public fear. Through its fantasy lens, the game provides a sobering warning: in times of crisis, we must remain vigilant against those who would trade our liberties for a false sense of security.
Image; Xbox Game StudiosIn contrast, Double Fine’s Keeper offers a more abstract and gentle reflection on isolation. As a sentient lighthouse exploring a world devoid of humans, the game captures the meditative stillness of the lockdown years. Project lead Lee Petty noted that the concept originated from his solitary hikes during 2020, where he began to envision a planet where nature had finally reclaimed its domain.
Keeper presents a serene post-human world where flora and fauna thrive in the silence. It encourages players to slow down, observe the environment, and find beauty in a world that no longer centers on human activity. It mirrors the surreal experience of walking through deserted city streets—scary at first, but eventually revealing a hidden, quiet peace. It serves as a reminder that life is incredibly resilient and that the natural world possesses a restorative power that persists even when our own structures fail.
Ultimately, these titles provide more than just entertainment; they offer a path to reconciliation. While acknowledging the grief and the opportunistic forces that arise during a crisis, they all share an underlying hope. These games remind us that even in our darkest moments, we possess the capacity to build a future worth living in—as long as we continue to support one another and fight for the generations that follow.
Source: Polygon
