Comunicando através de imagens: um estudo de observação da comunicação visual no jogo Hollow Knight

Abstract

Digital games have established themselves as a significant medium of communication and entertainment, reaching 74.5% of the Brazilian population. In this context, the growth of independent productions stands out, often offering diverse and innovative experiences. Among these, games like Hollow Knight gain prominence by exploring narrative through various forms: textual, auditory, visual, and interactive. This study investigates how the visual elements of this game contribute to narrative construction, analyzing their relationship with atmosphere creation, information transmission, and player guidance. Based on theories of visual communication, digital narrative, and Level Design, a qualitative approach was adopted. A specific area of the game was selected, images were captured, elements were described, and their characteristics were coded, with the entire process documented on the Notion platform. The results reveal that visual communication in Hollow Knight plays an essential role in the narrative, employing elements such as colors, textures, layers, and contrasts to convey information and guide the player. Colors are used strategically: cool tones suggest mystery, while warm ones indicate tension or danger, contributing to atmospheres aligned with the storyline. Textures build immersive scenarios with depth, convey the passage of time, and distinguish different areas. Layers combine foreground, background, and depth elements to guide player movement and emphasize narrative aspects while enriching the overall environment with secondary details. Figure-ground relationships, reinforced by visual contrasts, facilitate spatial orientation and highlight points of interest or danger. Scale is used to reinforce themes such as power and fragility, intentionally contrasting the character’s proportions with the larger environment. Silhouettes and shadows add depth, while the organization of colors and shapes creates aesthetic and narrative cohesion between different observed areas, consistently connecting visual elements to the storyline. In conclusion, the integration between narrative and visual communication in the observed area of the game demonstrates how visual elements can function as effective narrative tools, promoting rich and cohesive player experiences.