From the very first days of digital gaming, sport-themed video games have been a constant and ever-popular presence. However, compared with many other genres of games, sports-themed video games have remained relatively under researched. Using the case of “sports video games,” this article advocates a critical and located approach to understanding video games and gameplay. Unlike many existing theorizations of gameplay, such as the “magic circle,” which theorize play as a break from ordinary life, this article argues for a consideration of play as a continuation of “the control of the established order.” It argues that many video games, and in particular sports video games, can be understood as “themed” spaces which share similarities to other themed locations, such as fast-food restaurants and theme parks. These are “non places” themed to provide a sense of individuality, control, and escape in a society that increasingly offers none.
