Exploring empathy and intersectionality in gaming: a case study of sweetxheart (Small, 2019)

This study examines the ability of the game SweetXHeart – a genre-defying slice-of-life creation by Catt Small (2019) – to promote empathy and consciousness of microaggressions, specifically among participants whose characteristics differ from the game's main character – a white male-dominated sample. The study included 39 undergraduate students from a Bachelor’s Degree in videogames, offering a distinct chance to examine the reactions of this specific demographic to feminist and intersectional ideas in gaming. After playing the game, participants were surveyed, and a mixed-methods approach, including quantitative and content analysis, was applied to their answers. The obtained results emphasize how players gain empathy by adopting the game character’s perspective and experiencing her life, and fostering connections. However, the game’s effectiveness in raising awareness depends on the participants’ understanding of intersectionality and the challenges faced by people in positions of privilege. Further research is needed to fully understand this, and other similar game’s impact on understanding and addressing gender and race issues.