Background

We Become What We Behold was created by Nicky Case, a developer well known for using small, playable games and interactive explanations to communicate complex social and systemic ideas in an accessible way. Released in 2016, this particular game became widely shared for its sharp, minimalist satire of media sensationalism and tribal group-think, using an extremely simple visual metaphor — photographing townspeople through a camera lens — to demonstrate how selective framing can escalate conflict and division.

Its brevity is entirely intentional: the game can be completed in just a few minutes, but its central point about how media attention itself can manufacture the very conflicts it reports on has made it a frequently cited example of games used as a communicative or educational medium rather than pure entertainment.

How to Play

• Mouse — aim and click your camera to photograph townspeople.
• Observe how your photographic choices influence the unfolding narrative.
• Progress through the short experience to see its full satirical point play out.
• Reflect on the game's commentary once you reach its conclusion.

Goal & Purpose

The goal is simply to play through the short experience and observe how your camera's framing choices shape the story — the real purpose is the satirical point it makes about media and social division, not any traditional win condition.

Why Play We Become What We Behold

It's a sharp, thought-provoking piece of games-as-commentary that says more in a few minutes than many games manage in hours. If you enjoy meta or conceptual games, GBK Games also has There Is No Game for another genre-defying experience.