Abstract
This thesis explores how liminal spaces can be used in video games by analyzing their design and impact on player tension. How can designers create transitional or ambiguous environments that contribute to a sense of unease, anticipation, and tension? What are some of the common design elements that help build an effective liminal space, which the researcher calls distortions, and how do those distortions affect player tension? The researcher created a series of levels that explore the different elements of liminal spaces to test how they affect player tension while playing the level.
Degree Date
Spring 2025
Document Type
Thesis
Degree Name
M.I.T.
Department
Level Design
Advisor
Mike Porter
Acknowledgements
Special thanks to Professors Katie Wood Clark and Mike Porter who advised this thesis project. Thank you both for your invaluable feedback and guidance. Additionally, thank you to all the playtesters for helping produce data for this study. Lastly, I want to acknowledge the faculty of Southern Methodist University Guildhall and all they taught me.
Format
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial 4.0 License
Recommended Citation
Herrera, Zane, "An Exploration into Liminal Spaces and Their Effects on Player Tension" (2025). Level Design Theses and Dissertations. 19.
https://scholar.smu.edu/guildhall_leveldesign_etds/19
