Empathy and Regeneration: The Missing: J.J. Macfield and the Island of Memories

The Missing: J.J. Macfield and the Island of Memories (2018), uses the grotesque and absurd to encourage empathy and understanding for the main character, J.J. Macfield. This SWERY-developed game has the titular character dismember herself in order to progress through the story, even to the point that J.J. can become just a head rolling around. Unlike many video games, you purposefully harm your player character to progress through the game. The brutality in the game mechanics are integral to J.J.’s story and journey through an absurd environment that includes a deer-headed character with a distorted voice speaking about a medical emergency. The story incorporates bullying, self-harm, as well as multiple suicides which lead to the reveal that The Missing is about a trans woman who has been in a dream-like state while being revived by paramedics after a real-world suicide attempt. Ultimately, this is a story of self-acceptance and of seeking the support of those closest to you. The physical pain and body horror that J.J.’s experiences throughout the game represent the struggles that she has with body dysmorphia and her pain dealing with intolerance from her mother. The grotesque gameplay mechanic of body horror, self-harm, and dismemberment to progress frames J.J.’s journey in a way that is a representation of the trans experience, as well as creating a story and gameplay that allow cis people to understand and empathize with that lived experience.