Architecting the Beyond: Building Afterlife Realms in Games

26 December 2024

The concept of the afterlife has intrigued humans for centuries. It’s this boundless curiosity and the limitless possibilities of what lies beyond that make it a perfect playground for video game creators. Whether it's walking through pearly gates or navigating a darker underworld, games have the power to let us "live" in the afterlife. But building these realms isn’t just slapping some glowing fog on the screen and calling it a day. Oh no, it’s way deeper than that. Let’s dive into how developers architect the beyond and create compelling afterlife realms in games.

The Appeal of the Afterlife in Games

What makes afterlife settings so captivating? Well, for one, they're uncharted territory. The afterlife is a blank slate that offers creative freedom like no other. There’s no rulebook, no physics engine to follow—just pure imagination. It’s where the fantastical meets the philosophical.

Gamers love a good mystery, and nothing screams mystery more than asking, "What happens after we die?" These realms offer players a taste of immortality, a chance to confront their fears or hopes about life’s ultimate question—without the actual commitment of, you know, dying. Plus, afterlife settings are dripping in drama. Heaven, hell, limbo—they come preloaded with moral dilemmas, existential crises, and opportunities for wild storytelling.

Why Afterlife Worlds Are Perfect for Gaming

How do you gamify something as abstract as the afterlife? It's not like there's a blueprint for it. But that’s the beauty of it. Games are a medium where creators can bend, twist, and redefine reality. The afterlife is a perfect canvas for this.

Every game set in the beyond has its own "rules." Some embrace chaos with surreal physics, while others go for an orderly approach with clear systems and structures. Take The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess, for instance, where the Twilight Realm feels ethereal and otherworldly, yet it operates on its own internal logic. On the flip side, Hades presents a deeply structured underworld based on Greek mythology, crafting a hellish bureaucracy that’s equal parts relatable and fantastical.

These worlds aren’t just about aesthetics—they’re about mechanics too. Players want to feel like the afterlife is as alive as the mortal world they left behind (pun intended). Developers build these realms to ensure they feel tangible, immersive, and interactive while still being unbound by the laws of our reality.

The Key Pillars of Afterlife World Design

So, how do developers architect these fantastical realms? There are a few key elements to get right.

1. Lore and Mythology

Building an afterlife starts with a strong narrative foundation. Many games borrow from existing mythologies—be it Greek, Norse, or even Christian lore. But here’s the catch: you need to add your own twist. After all, who wants a carbon copy of something we’ve already seen?

In God of War (2018), the developers took Norse mythology and reimagined it through their lens. Helheim, the Norse underworld, doesn’t just look cold and foreboding; it feels heavy with grief and regret—perfectly mirroring the game's themes.

But it’s not just about borrowing; some games go fully original. Look at Spiritfarer, which creates its own afterlife mythology focused on ferrying spirits to the other side. It's heartfelt, personal, and completely fresh.

2. Visual Aesthetics

Let’s face it: the afterlife better look cool. Whether it's the glowing, serene landscapes of heaven or the fiery pits of hell, visuals are the first thing that pull players in. Developers use color palettes, lighting, and effects to evoke emotion. Warm hues can feel inviting or eerie. Blues and whites often signify serenity. And don’t even get me started on how shadows and fog can create a sense of mystery or foreboding.

In Limbo, the grayscale art style with sharp contrasts creates a somber, unsettling mood. Meanwhile, Journey uses light and vast landscapes to evoke a sense of transcendence and wonder. Each choice in visual design whispers (or screams) something about the afterlife the game wants you to experience.

3. Audio and Music

Sound is the unsung hero (pun intended) of afterlife realm design. A haunting melody or an angelic choir can completely transform how a player feels in these worlds. Developers use ambient sounds, eerie echoes, and sometimes near silence to build tension or peace.

Take Hollow Knight. The game features haunting, melancholic music in its mysterious, underworld-like setting. Every note tells you: this place is not normal.

4. Philosophical Weight

Let’s be real: the afterlife isn’t just eye candy. It has to make you think. The best games use these realms to dive into heavy themes like morality, redemption, loss, and what it means to “move on.”

Outer Wilds takes the concept of an afterlife (or at least something like it) and turns it into a philosophical puzzle about the cyclical nature of existence. It’s not just an afterlife—it’s a mirror held up to life itself.

Mechanics That Bring the Afterlife to Life

Creating a killer afterlife realm isn’t just about making it pretty or meaningful; it also has to be interactive. Players need to do something in these spaces.

1. Traversal

Movement is a big one. Afterlife realms often feature unconventional traversal mechanics that reflect their otherworldly nature. Think floating platforms, gravity-defying jumps, or portals that twist space and time. Games like Portal or Control might not be explicitly about the afterlife, but their level design feels like it belongs in one.

2. Choices and Consequences

What is the afterlife without judgment? Many afterlife-themed games give players moral choices that affect their journey. Who do you save? Who do you abandon? These decisions add weight to the experience, making players reflect on their own morality. Mass Effect 3’s Extended Cut ending hits these notes beautifully, where your choices throughout the series culminate into a final, almost "afterlife-like" reckoning.

3. Puzzles and Mysteries

The afterlife is often portrayed as a place of enlightenment or revelation, so puzzles naturally fit. Whether it's figuring out how to pass through a locked gate in the underworld or piecing together your own fragmented memories (What Remains of Edith Finch), these mechanics symbolize growth and understanding.

Challenges of Designing the Afterlife

As thrilling as it is to create an afterlife, it’s not without challenges.

1. Balancing the Familiar and the Unfamiliar

Too weird, and you lose the player. Too grounded, and it doesn’t feel like the afterlife. Striking that balance is a tightrope act. Games like The Pathless manage this masterfully by feeling both earthly and mystical.

2. Avoiding Tropes

Afterlife settings can easily fall into cliché territory. Floating islands, angelic choirs, pitchfork-wielding demons—you’ve seen it all before. The trick? Subvert expectations. Play with the ideas we think we know and reshape them.

The Future of Afterlife Realms in Games

As technology grows, so too will our ability to create richer, more immersive afterlife experiences. Imagine exploring the beyond in VR, where you’re literally walking through the afterlife. Or AI-driven narratives that adapt to your personal beliefs about what the afterlife should be.

One thing’s for sure: as long as humans are fascinated by what happens after death, developers will continue to build these extraordinary worlds.

Final Thoughts

Creating afterlife realms in games is both an art and a science. It’s about blending visuals, sound, mechanics, and narrative into something that feels otherworldly yet relatable. Whether you’re battling demons, ferrying souls, or floating through a dreamlike expanse, these games remind us why gaming is such a powerful medium—it lets us experience the unimaginable. And honestly? What’s more unimaginable than the afterlife?