Game Studies: A Critical Introduction to the Field

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Brendan Keogh (Queensland University of Technology, Australia) Mahli-Ann Butt (University of Melbourne, Australia)

Game Studies

Name: Game Studies
Price: 39.95 AUD
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ISBN: 9781509563791

A Critical Introduction to the Field

Brendan Keogh (Queensland University of Technology, Australia), Mahli-Ann Butt (University of Melbourne, Australia), Marcus Carter (University of Sydney, Australia)

$39.95

Paperback

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English

Polity Press
20 March 2026

Society & Social Sciences; Media studies

From Among Us to Minecraft, Catan to Dungeons and Dragons, games and play are fundamentally transforming how we understand storytelling, education, identity, politics, and creativity.

Game Studies provides the first ever critical and comprehensive introduction for navigating this complex, interdisciplinary, and rapidly growing research field. Each chapter introduces a timely area of debate in games research, and addresses critical questions about the social, cultural, and economic aspects of games and the people who play and make them. Combining key theoretical frameworks with case studies of influential games, the book equips readers with the tools needed to engage critically with games and their growing cultural significance.

Full of concrete examples and pedagogical features, Game Studies offers a highly accessible and urgently needed guide to this rapidly expanding, hotly contested, and culturally significant field. It is essential reading for students of both media studies and game design, and an important resource for scholars, developers, and players.

By: Brendan Keogh (Queensland University of Technology Australia), Mahli-Ann Butt (University of Melbourne, Australia), Marcus Carter (University of Sydney, Australia)
Imprint: Polity Press
Country of Publication: United Kingdom
Dimensions: Height: 246mm, Width: 171mm, Spine: 29mm
Weight: 539g
ISBN: 9781509563791
ISBN 10: 1509563792
Pages: 304
Publication Date: 20 March 2026
Audience: College/higher education , Primary
Format: Paperback
Publisher's Status: Active

List of figures Acknowledgements 1. Welcome to game studies 2. How games mean 3. How games persuade 4. Playing with games 5. Breaking the rules 6. Beyond gamer culture 7. Playing together 8. Decentering the player 9. Playing globally 10. Making games 11. The games industry Notes References Index

Brendan Keogh is Associate Professor in the School of Communication at the Queensland University of Technology. Mahli-Ann Butt is Lecturer in Cultural Studies at the University of Melbourne. Marcus Carter is Professor in Human-Computer Interaction at the University of Sydney.

Reviews for Game Studies: A Critical Introduction to the Field

""Game Studies offers an up-to-date, accessible, holistic, and yet nuanced introduction to this vast interdisciplinary field. It is the book all game educators have been waiting for, and should be read by everyone who engages in games research."" Adrienne Shaw, Temple University ""Informative and inspiring, this book is a comprehensive guide, serving well anyone starting their academic adventures in game studies. It opens solid pathways and helps the reader to avoid many pitfalls present in this field of research."" Frans Mäyrä, Tampere University ""Game Studies is reflective, forward-looking, and captures the excitement of a field taking shape. It is insightful, accessible and deeply grounded, and serves as a reminder of how far the study of games has come."" José P. Zagal, University of Utah