From Repetition to Immersion: A Design-Oriented Study of Cyclical Game Systems

Abstract

This thesis investigates how cyclical game mechanics, such as time loops and recurring world events, can enhance immersion, player agency and world comprehension in digital games. While dynamic and emergent systems are often portrayed as the peak of immersive worldbuilding, this work argues that cyclical structures offer a distinct design strategy. Through structured repetition, they create coherence and a sense of autonomy. The study uses a design-oriented, qualitative approach that combines theoretical models (GameFlow and PENS), comparative case studies of well-known titles and an in-depth analysis of Sonder, a game built around a 20-minute loop with deterministic world events. Sonder was chosen as a central case study because its scheduled cycles and predictable temporal logic provide a clear foundation for studying how repetition shapes player experience. The findings show that cyclical systems support immersion by reinforcing internal world logic and offering orientation through recurring patterns. Progression emerges less from resource accumulation than from knowledge and pattern recognition. Agency, though constrained by predetermined structures, is experienced through timing, traversal and learning across cycles. This suggests that meaningful play can emerge without relying on open-ended dynamism. On a theoretical level, the thesis distinguishes cyclical from dynamic systems, presenting cycles as autonomous design principles rather than secondary to emergence. On a practical level, it offers design recommendations for using cyclical mechanics as tools for immersive worldbuilding, especially for small development teams. Future research should empirically examine how players experience cyclical systems in practice and explore hybrid forms that combine cyclical repetition with emergent or procedural dynamics.

Date of Award	2025
Original language	English
Supervisor	Michael Lankes (Supervisor)