Narratives of environmental crisis in Chrono Cross: settler colonialism,
inter-species conflicts, and environmental injustice
Abstract
This article examines narratives of environmental injustice through
representations of settler colonialism and resource exploitation in the
digital game Chrono Cross, as a case study to demonstrate how
narratives of environmental crisis can be mobilized by developers to
raise awareness on how resource exploitation can be harmful in a
manifold of ways, from species extinction to violation of Indigenous
peoples. Additionally, this study explores how game mechanics –
specifically those related to inter-species conflicts and resource
gathering – mobilize readings that are inconsistent with the
environmental narrative intended by the game.