This book delivers a unique way of understanding the heart of every first-person military shooter game – its enemies – from within the genre itself to present a nuanced view of opponents in war games.

The analysis provides a systematic framework for a comparative and intersectional analysis that pays attention to multiple layers of video games, such as narrative, audiovisuality, gameplay and the construction of ludic space, considering genre-specific conventions and mechanics. Integrating theories and methods from game studies, cultural studies, and religious studies, the book introduces the concept of “ludic othering”. By applying this concept to a variety of military shooters produced during the heyday of the War on Terror, the book illustrates “ludic othering’s” analytical potential in answering a central question: What social and cultural ascriptions are at play in the representation of enemies?

This volume will interest students and scholars of video game studies, religious and cultural studies, digital media, genre, history, postcolonial studies and communication studies.