Enter a social media dystopia in this game
We Become What We Behold is a simple browser-based game that shows you the toxic effects of social media. Free to play, this game will have you take over a social media feed and take photographs of exciting news. However, the events you capture will affect the community.
We Become What We Behold comes with simple cartoony graphics that hides its rather serious themes. It also has easy controls—only needing your left-mouse button to capture an event. Note, however, that the game only lasts for about five minutes. Not only that, but it will only have one storyline.
The effects of your social media posts
As mentioned, We Become What We Behold is a small strategy game based on the toxic effects of social media. The game is extremely simple and easy to understand. On your screen are cartoony people with either square or circle heads. These people are walking all around the screen, with some doing something or sporting different reactions. Your goal is to capture these unique events using the camera window.
Once captured, the game will generate a hashtag description the same way users in social media do. However, these events you captured will have an effect on the other “people” on the screen. For instance, if you capture the man with the jaunty hat, the people will follow suit. On the other hand, taking a photo of a square-headed man who screams will start a culture of hatred among the rest.
Follow the storyline
At first, We Become What We Behold seems to be a game that will give you freedom in choosing the events you want to capture. However, that is not the way it flows. After a few attempts of capturing random people, it will be clear that the game wants you to take shots of specific events that will lead to the ending they have in mind.
If you click your camera window randomly, the hashtag will tell you to take a shot of a more interesting event. Moreover, a cricket sound will play as if telling you that your post did not generate views. To keep your progress, you should capture only those that depict hatred and violence—which is apparently the story that the game wishes to explore.
As noted, the entire gameplay lasts for only five minutes—that is, if you follow the flow that the developer wants you to do. You can make it last longer by capturing random people and events. However, that would make it a little boring since it would not have an effect on the people on the screen. Additionally, it only comes with one ending. There is nothing more that would make you play the game again once you’ve finished one session.
A five-minute downer
Despite its rather deep meaning, We Become What We Behold is not a complex game. The mechanics are simple and only require one button—left mouse click—for controls. The graphics are also cute, although the message is a little disturbing. The short gameplay and the lack of player freedom are a little disappointing, however. You can invest your time playing it since it’s pretty short.
