Aristotelian Ontology in Game Mechanics: A Hierarchical Framework

OpenAlex · İngilizce

This study approaches game mechanics not merely as functional or experiential tools, but as ontological entities within constructed game worlds.Mechanics, which define player actions and how the game responds, are fundamental to both digital and analog game design, and play a significant role in experimental games using new technologies.While previous frameworks often classify mechanics based on function or player interaction, they frequently overlook the deeper question of what a mechanic is ontologically.Drawing on Aristotle's ontological hierarchy, this research proposes a new way to understand game mechanics as existing across physical, social, and metaphysical layers.It asks: when does a mechanic act as a physical system, when does it become a form of social interaction, and under what conditions does it acquire symbolic or metaphysical significance?By exploring these questions, the study argues that game mechanics are not just tools for gameplay loops, but structures that contribute to meaning-making and the philosophical architecture of game worlds.Thus, the study calls for a more refined classification that considers the ontological function of mechanics in the internal logic and philosophical architecture of games.