Battle Royale

Opinion / Why do we crave survival game tropes?

The eerie whistle of a haunting melody, the countdown of a clock ticking toward doom, and a desperate player caught between having to take a drastic step either for or against morality — survival game shows have become a global obsession. From the blood-soaked battlegrounds of "Battle Royale" to the dystopian depths of "Squid Game", these narratives have gripped audiences, offering a voyeuristic thrill into life-or-death scenarios. But why are we so drawn to them? The answer lies in the intersection of psychology and sociology, where primal instincts and societal reflections meet.

January 19, 2025
January 19, 2025

Why do we crave survival game tropes?

The eerie whistle of a haunting melody, the countdown of a clock ticking toward doom, and a desperate player caught between having to take a drastic step either for or against morality — survival game shows have become a global obsession. From the blood-soaked battlegrounds of "Battle Royale" to the dystopian depths of "Squid Game", these narratives have gripped audiences, offering a voyeuristic thrill into life-or-death scenarios. But why are we so drawn to them? The answer lies in the intersection of psychology and sociology, where primal instincts and societal reflections meet.