🎯 Prepare for a Mind-Bending Journey Into Media Manipulation!
"This game will leave you speechless" - that's what millions of players are saying about this award-winning social experiment. We Become What We Behold isn't just a game; it's a powerful 5-minute experience that reveals how news cycles shape our reality and turn society against itself.
🎮 Game Overview
We Become What We Behold is a groundbreaking point-and-click game created by acclaimed indie developer Nicky Case. In this unique social commentary experience, you play as a photographer capturing moments that will be broadcast to the masses. Your camera becomes a weapon of influence as you decide what stories get told and what moments define society.
The game features a deceptively simple premise: "We become what we behold. We shape our tools, and then our tools shape us". Watch as your photographic choices transform peaceful communities of squares and circles into divided, fearful populations ready for conflict.
✨ Special Features That Make This Game Unforgettable
📸 Dynamic Photography Mechanics
- Point-and-click camera system - Drag your viewfinder to capture the perfect moment
- Real-time character reactions - Watch as your published photos immediately influence crowd behavior
- Multiple character archetypes - From peaceful couples to angry individuals, each photo target creates different social ripples
🔄 Viral Social Dynamics
- Cascading influence system - Small moments become massive social movements
- Character evolution - Normal people transform based on what they see in the media
- Unpredictable interactions - "Anger and fear multiply faster than love" in this realistic social simulation
🎭 Deep Social Commentary
- Non-partisan political exploration - Examines divisiveness without taking sides
- Media literacy education - Shows how selective reporting shapes public opinion
- Thought-provoking narrative - "A game about news cycles, vicious cycles, infinite cycles"
🎪 Game Experience
We Become What We Behold offers a single, intense 5-minute journey that players describe as "literally our society". The experience is designed to be replayed for deeper understanding, with each playthrough revealing new layers of media manipulation.
Character Types You'll Encounter:
- Normal Peeps - Ordinary squares and circles living their daily lives
- The Fancy Hat Man - A trendsetter whose style influences the masses
- Couples in Love - Peaceful relationships that become targets for shame
- Angry Individuals - Conflict creators whose rage spreads like wildfire
- Crickets - The innocent bystanders ("Nothing happens when you photograph them")
⌨️ How to Play - Simple Yet Profound
Basic Controls:
- Mouse Movement - Position your camera viewfinder around the screen
- Left Click - Capture the moment and broadcast it to the world
- Strategic Timing - Wait for unique and eventful interactions
Pro Tips from the Community:
- Focus on conflict - The game rewards dramatic moments over peaceful interactions
- Watch the ripple effects - Each photo creates lasting changes in character behavior
- Embrace the inevitability - "I found myself trying to fight the inevitable" - part of the experience is accepting the media's power
🆕 Latest Updates & Availability
We Become What We Behold was originally released in October 2016 and updated in October 2018. The game has expanded globally with:
- Multi-language support - Available in German, Korean, Italian, Arabic, Russian, Chinese, French, and more
- Cross-platform accessibility - Playable on desktop and mobile browsers
- Open source release - The entire codebase is available under Creative Commons
💬 What Players Are Saying
*"Very interesting game, with a brilliant look at media use and influence"* - KooperAmused (85% rating)
*"It was a perfect ten minutes"* - Ensareis (90% rating)
*"The sad reality of media and crowd manipulation"* - eimon (100% rating)
*"This game shows how the news affects each and every one of us and our actions"* - Greenbean_OW
YouTube reactions consistently praise the game's impact:
- "THIS GAME IS INSANE!"
- "THIS ESCALATED SO QUICKLY!"
- Over 12 million views on reaction videos
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
Q: How long does We Become What We Behold take to complete?
A: The game is designed as a 5-minute experience, though many players spend additional time replaying to explore different choices and understand the deeper message.
Q: Is We Become What We Behold suitable for educational purposes?
A: Absolutely! The game is widely used in media literacy education and has been praised as "a striking thought piece that encourages you to consider how information presentation influences how people think and feel".
Q: Can I influence the ending of We Become What We Behold?
A: The game is designed to demonstrate the inevitability of media-driven conflict cycles. While you control what to photograph, the overall narrative arc remains consistent to reinforce its message about media manipulation.
Q: What makes We Become What We Behold different from other games?
A: Unlike traditional games focused on winning or scoring, We Become What We Behold prioritizes delivering a powerful social message. There's "no score, no timer, and no real winning" - just a profound commentary on modern media.
Q: Who created We Become What We Behold?
A: The game was created by Nicky Case, an acclaimed indie developer known for meaningful interactive experiences like "Parable of the Polygons" and "Coming Out Simulator".
Q: Is We Become What We Behold free to play?
A: Yes! The game is completely free and open source, with the creator releasing all code and art to the public domain.
Ready to discover how media shapes reality? Experience the viral phenomenon that's changed how millions view news cycles. We Become What We Behold awaits your lens.