This article critically analyses the representational practices of serious (video) games that focus on refugees. It argues that the technological form of serious games can simulate the historical, political and socio-economic factors that shape why refugees leave their home country and their experiences when travelling to host countries. They are able to mobilise intellectual agendas which challenge the de-contextualised representations of refugees typical in traditional media. As such, they challenge players to critically reflect on the complexities of refugee experiences and politics, thereby presenting a potential to move away from grand emotional discourses of pity and compassion. © 2017 Southseries Inc., www.thirdworldquarterly.com.

Representations migration and refugees Media Human vulnerability serious games suffering others

media role recreational activity refugee complexity Mass Media vulnerability videography population migration social behavior