Emotional immersion and emotional change in digital game play : A qualitative diary-based study of player experience

Sammanfattning

Emotional experiences play a central role in how players engage with and interpret digital games. Rather than merely completing objectives, players actively choose games to meet emotional needs and reflect on the outcomes of play. This thesis explores emotional immersion as a situated, player-centered experience shaped by emotional expectations, play situations, and game genres. Drawing on research in Game User Experience, player motivation, and frame theory, the study establishes a conceptual foundation for examining how emotional immersion emerges across everyday gameplay. A qualitative diary-based research method was used to capture players’ emotional states before, during, and after play, as well as reflections on whether gameplay meets emotional expectations. By focusing on lived experience and interpretation, the thesis aims to contribute a nuanced understanding of emotional immersion as a dynamic and context-dependent process.