We Become What We Behold Unblocked

A free online game about news cycles, vicious cycles, and infinite cycles

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Created by Nicky Case | Unblocked version - Play for free online

How to Play We Become What We Behold Unblocked

Basic Gameplay

We Become What We Behold Unblocked is a free online game that takes only about 5 minutes to play but delivers a powerful message about media influence. As a photojournalist, your task is simple: capture moments happening in a crowded street filled with characters that have either round or square heads. Using your camera frame, you'll take photos of interactions between these characters, post them as news, and observe how society reacts to your coverage. The game mechanics are straightforward—just click and drag to position your camera frame, then release to take a photo. What makes We Become What We Behold Unblocked so compelling isn't complex gameplay but rather the profound social commentary it presents through this simple interaction. As you continue to capture and publish images, you'll witness how your choice of what to highlight influences the behavior of the characters, creating a feedback loop that demonstrates the power of media framing in shaping public perception and behavior.

Game Objectives

In We Become What We Behold Unblocked, your primary objective is to capture newsworthy moments that will engage your audience. The game doesn't explicitly tell you what to photograph—instead, it encourages you to follow your instincts as a photojournalist. Initially, you might focus on mundane interactions, but as the game progresses, you'll be drawn to more sensational content. The free online game doesn't have traditional win conditions or scoring systems. Instead, it's designed as an interactive experience that unfolds based on your choices. Your goal is to keep your audience engaged by capturing increasingly dramatic moments, which inadvertently shapes the society you're observing. As you progress, you'll notice how your previous coverage influences the behavior of the characters, creating new photo opportunities. The true objective of We Become What We Behold Unblocked becomes clear as you play—it's not about winning but about experiencing and reflecting on the cyclical relationship between media coverage and social behavior, and understanding how "we become what we behold."

Game Mechanics & Themes

We Become What We Behold Unblocked offers a unique gaming experience that uses simple mechanics to deliver profound social commentary.

The Camera Frame Mechanic

The core gameplay mechanic in We Become What We Behold Unblocked revolves around the camera frame, which serves as both your tool and a powerful metaphor. This free online game puts you in control of a square viewfinder that you can position anywhere in the scene. What makes this mechanic so effective is its simplicity—you simply click and drag to position the frame, then release to capture the moment. However, this simple action carries significant weight in the game's narrative. The frame represents media focus, highlighting certain events while inevitably excluding others. By choosing what fits within your frame, you're deciding what becomes news and, consequently, what shapes public perception. The limited size of the frame forces you to be selective, mirroring real-world editorial decisions about what stories get covered. As the game progresses, you'll notice that your camera is drawn to more sensational content, with the game subtly guiding you toward capturing increasingly dramatic interactions. This mechanic brilliantly illustrates how media tends to focus on the extraordinary, the controversial, and the conflict-driven rather than the everyday and mundane, despite the latter being more representative of reality. Through this simple interaction, We Become What We Behold Unblocked delivers a masterclass in how game mechanics can serve as powerful metaphors for complex social phenomena.

Media Influence Cycle

At the heart of We Become What We Behold Unblocked is the concept of cyclical influence between media and society. This free online game demonstrates how media coverage shapes public perception, which in turn influences behavior, creating new events for media to cover. As you play the role of a photojournalist, you'll witness this cycle unfold in real-time. Initially, the characters in the game—represented by circles and squares—coexist peacefully. However, as you begin to capture and publish images of minor conflicts or unusual interactions between these groups, you'll notice a shift in behavior. The characters start to notice and react to these published images, adjusting their attitudes and actions accordingly. If your coverage focuses on negative interactions between circles and squares, the characters begin to view the other group with suspicion and hostility. This leads to more conflicts, which provide more sensational content for you to capture, perpetuating and amplifying the cycle. What makes this mechanic particularly powerful is how it illustrates the self-reinforcing nature of media influence. The game doesn't force you to cover negative events—you could theoretically focus on positive interactions—but it subtly guides you toward sensationalism through visual and design cues. This mirrors real-world media incentives, where conflict and controversy often generate more engagement than harmony and cooperation. Through this cyclical mechanic, We Become What We Behold Unblocked offers a profound commentary on how media doesn't just report reality but actively shapes it, often in ways that escalate division and conflict.

Social Commentary

We Become What We Behold Unblocked delivers its most powerful impact through its incisive social commentary on media influence and societal polarization. This free online game uses its simple mechanics to illustrate complex social phenomena that are increasingly relevant in our digital age. The game's central metaphor—circles and squares representing different social groups—strips away the specifics of real-world divisions to focus on the universal pattern of how differences become amplified through media coverage. As you play, you'll witness how minor incidents between these groups, when highlighted and broadcast, can escalate into significant social conflict. This progression mirrors real-world examples of how media coverage can exacerbate tensions between different communities, political groups, or ideologies. The game also offers commentary on the responsibility of media consumers. While you, as the player, control what gets photographed and published, the characters in the game choose how to respond to these publications. This dual agency highlights how media influence is a two-way street, requiring both the framing of events by media and the reception and internalization of these frames by the audience. Perhaps most poignantly, We Become What We Behold Unblocked illustrates how difficult it is to break these cycles once they begin. As the game progresses and tensions escalate, finding positive interactions to highlight becomes increasingly challenging, mirroring how societies can become trapped in spirals of polarization and conflict. Through these layered commentaries, the game invites players to reflect critically on their own media consumption habits and the broader societal impacts of how news is produced and consumed in the digital age.

Visual Design & Symbolism

The visual design of We Become What We Behold Unblocked employs deliberate minimalism to enhance its powerful message. This free online game uses simple geometric shapes—circles and squares—to represent different social groups, stripping away specific identities to focus on the universal pattern of how differences become amplified through media coverage. This abstraction allows players from any background to engage with the game's themes without the distraction of specific real-world divisions. The clean, uncluttered visual style ensures that players focus on the interactions and the emerging patterns rather than getting lost in visual details. Color plays a significant role in the game's visual language. As tensions escalate, the palette shifts subtly, with more intense colors signaling heightened emotions and conflict. The news headlines that appear after each photo capture use typography effectively to convey tone, with larger, bolder text for more sensational stories. The camera frame itself is perhaps the most important visual element, serving as both a gameplay mechanic and a powerful symbol of how media selectively frames reality. Its limited size forces players to make choices about what to include and exclude, mirroring real-world editorial decisions. The visual feedback when capturing a photo—the flash effect and the transition to seeing your photo as a published news item—reinforces the game's commentary on the transformation of isolated moments into influential media narratives. Through these thoughtful visual design choices, We Become What We Behold Unblocked creates an immediately accessible experience that nonetheless carries profound symbolic weight, allowing players to engage with complex social issues through a clear and compelling visual language.

Impact & Analysis

Educational Value

We Become What We Behold Unblocked offers significant educational value, making it an excellent resource for classrooms and educational settings. This free online game serves as a powerful tool for teaching media literacy, helping players understand how news framing influences public perception and behavior. The game's short duration—approximately 5 minutes—makes it ideal for classroom use, allowing time for both gameplay and subsequent discussion. Educators have used We Become What We Behold Unblocked to initiate conversations about responsible media consumption, the ethics of journalism, and the mechanisms of social polarization. The game's abstract representation of social groups through circles and squares allows it to address sensitive topics like prejudice and discrimination without becoming entangled in specific real-world examples that might be divisive. This abstraction makes the game accessible across different cultural contexts while still delivering its core message. The interactive nature of the game provides a more engaging learning experience than passive educational content, allowing players to discover the consequences of media framing through their own actions rather than simply being told about them. This experiential learning often leads to deeper understanding and retention of the concepts being taught. Beyond formal education, We Become What We Behold Unblocked serves as a form of public education, reaching players who might not otherwise engage with critical analysis of media influence. By packaging these important lessons in an accessible, engaging format, the game extends media literacy education beyond traditional academic settings to a broader audience.

Cultural Relevance

We Become What We Behold Unblocked maintains strong cultural relevance in today's media-saturated society. This free online game, created by Nicky Case in 2016, has only become more pertinent as social media algorithms, filter bubbles, and polarization have intensified in recent years. The game's exploration of how media coverage can amplify divisions speaks directly to contemporary concerns about how news consumption patterns affect social cohesion and political discourse. In an era where many people get their news primarily through social media, the game's commentary on selective framing and the cycle of sensationalism offers valuable perspective on how these platforms might be shaping our perceptions and exacerbating societal tensions. The game's title itself—a reference to Marshall McLuhan's famous quote "We become what we behold. We shape our tools, and thereafter our tools shape us"—connects to ongoing discussions about how digital media technologies are influencing human behavior and social structures. As concerns about fake news, algorithmic amplification of extreme content, and media-driven polarization have entered mainstream discourse, We Become What We Behold Unblocked provides an accessible entry point for engaging with these complex issues. The game has been featured in numerous articles about meaningful games and has been incorporated into media literacy curricula, demonstrating its recognition as a culturally significant work. Its continued popularity years after its release speaks to how effectively it captures enduring truths about media influence that remain relevant regardless of changes in specific platforms or technologies. By distilling complex media dynamics into a simple interactive experience, We Become What We Behold Unblocked continues to offer valuable insights into how information systems shape social reality.

Developer & Background

About Nicky Case

We Become What We Behold Unblocked was created by Nicky Case, an independent game developer known for creating interactive experiences that explore complex social and psychological concepts. Case has established a reputation for developing what they call "explorable explanations"—interactive games and simulations that help players understand complicated systems through direct engagement rather than passive consumption. Their work consistently demonstrates a commitment to using the unique properties of interactive media to foster understanding of nuanced topics. Beyond We Become What We Behold Unblocked, Case has created several other notable free online games and interactive experiences. "The Evolution of Trust" explores game theory and the dynamics of cooperation and betrayal through playful interactive scenarios. "Coming Out Simulator 2014" draws on Case's personal experiences to create a narrative game about family relationships and sexual identity. "Parable of the Polygons," created in collaboration with Vi Hart, uses simple interactive simulations to illustrate how small individual biases can lead to large-scale segregation patterns. What unites Case's diverse body of work is a consistent focus on using interactivity to illuminate complex systems and encourage critical thinking. Rather than simply telling players what to think, Case's games create conditions where players can discover insights through their own actions and observations. This approach makes We Become What We Behold Unblocked particularly effective—instead of lecturing about media influence, it allows players to experience and reflect on these dynamics firsthand. Case's background in both programming and communication gives their work a distinctive blend of technical proficiency and narrative clarity. They often release their projects as open-source, reflecting a commitment to accessibility and educational impact over commercial success. This approach has earned Case recognition as an important voice in serious games and interactive education, with their work being featured in educational settings, museums, and digital literacy programs worldwide.

Development History

We Become What We Behold Unblocked was originally released in October 2016, with an update following on November 15, 2016. This free online game was developed during a period of increasing concern about media polarization and filter bubbles, particularly surrounding the 2016 US presidential election. The timing of its release made it especially resonant, as many were grappling with questions about how media consumption might be influencing political divisions. Nicky Case developed the game as an independent project, creating it over a relatively short period as a focused exploration of media influence cycles. Case has discussed how the game's concept emerged from their observations of how news coverage seemed to be creating feedback loops of attention and behavior, particularly around divisive issues. The development process prioritized simplicity and clarity, with Case refining the game's mechanics to create the most direct expression of its central message. The visual style was deliberately kept minimal, using basic geometric shapes to represent different social groups in order to focus attention on the interactions rather than specific identities. After its initial release as a browser-based game, We Become What We Behold gained popularity through word of mouth and social media sharing. Its short play time made it easy to recommend and share, helping it reach a wider audience than many longer, more complex games addressing similar themes. The game's impact led to it being featured in various educational contexts and game collections focused on social impact. In July 2019, the game was released on Steam by Mismatch Studio, bringing it to an even broader audience while maintaining its free-to-play status. This Steam release helped introduce the game to players who might not typically seek out browser-based experiences. Throughout its development and distribution history, We Become What We Behold has remained true to its original purpose as an accessible, thought-provoking commentary on media influence, prioritizing meaningful impact over commercial considerations.

Pro Tips & Strategies

Observation Techniques

  • • Pay close attention to the entire scene before deciding what to photograph
  • • Notice subtle interactions between circle and square characters
  • • Watch for characters reacting to previously published news
  • • Observe how behavior patterns change over time
  • • Look for unusual or standout actions that might make compelling news
  • • Notice how characters cluster and group themselves as the game progresses
  • • Pay attention to the background elements that provide context
  • • Watch for escalating tensions and how they manifest in character behavior

Reflection Strategies

  • • Consider how your photo choices influence subsequent character behavior
  • • Try different approaches in multiple playthroughs to see varied outcomes
  • • Reflect on the headlines generated by your photos and their tone
  • • Think about what's excluded from your frame and how that shapes the narrative
  • • Consider parallels between the game and real-world media dynamics
  • • Notice how the game subtly guides you toward certain types of content
  • • Reflect on your own emotional responses to the escalating situation
  • • Consider whether it's possible to break the cycle once it begins

Frequently Asked Questions

We Become What We Behold Unblocked is a free online game that offers a powerful commentary on media influence and social behavior. Created by independent developer Nicky Case, this short but impactful game puts you in the role of a photojournalist capturing and publishing moments from a scene populated by characters with round and square heads. As you take and publish photos, you'll witness how your coverage influences the behavior of the characters, creating a cycle of media influence and social response. The term "unblocked" means that the game can be accessed and played directly in your web browser without restrictions, even in environments where gaming websites might typically be limited, such as schools or workplaces. Despite its simple mechanics and short playtime of about 5 minutes, We Become What We Behold Unblocked delivers a profound message about how media shapes perception and how those perceptions in turn shape reality.

Playing We Become What We Behold Unblocked is straightforward and intuitive. The game can be played directly in your web browser without any downloads or installations required. When you start the game, you'll see a scene filled with characters that have either round or square heads interacting with each other. You control a camera frame that you can position anywhere in the scene by clicking and dragging with your mouse. To take a photo, simply release the mouse button when you've framed a moment you want to capture. The game will then publish your photo as a news item and show how the characters react to this coverage. As you continue taking photos, you'll notice how your previous coverage influences the behavior of the characters, creating new photo opportunities. The game progresses through several stages as the relationship between the circle and square characters evolves based on your coverage. There are no complex controls to master—the entire game is played with simple mouse movements and clicks, making it accessible to players of all skill levels.