The Basic Concept of the Magic Circle

The concept of the “magic circle” originates from Johan Huizinga’s work Homo Ludens. In the book, he writes: “The temporary world within the magic circle exists within the real world, where people immerse themselves in a performance isolated from the outside world.”

In Huizinga’s view, the magic circle is not a concept exclusive to games. Performances on stage, combat in arenas, rituals in churches, and even debates in courts are all activities that occur within the magic circle. These activities have specific boundaries and behavioural rules. In these magic circles, participants must adhere to specific rules. However, once they step outside the magic circle, these rules no longer apply.

For example, consider a stage performance. When the performance begins, the moment the actors step onto the stage, they must follow the script. Each actor plays a different role, having their own identity, so even complete strangers can play friends or family in the play. Once they leave the stage, these roles and rules no longer exist. Even if we stand on the stage outside of the performance and recite the character’s lines, we are not performing. Therefore, only during the performance is the stage part of the magic circle, and the actors’ performance is meaningful because of the existence of the magic circle.

The same applies to us in games. When we launch a game, holding a controller or mouse to control a character, we must follow the rules of the game. The game character has various abilities that we cannot possess in real life, or that are even impossible in reality. In the game, we use these abilities to survive in an environment where resources and food are scarce. However, these abilities do not affect our behaviour in the real world.

When we take a break from the game and leave the game world to satisfy our real-world hunger, we might chat with family or friends or watch a video. At this point, we are no longer playing the game character, and the game’s rules no longer apply. When we close the game, we completely detach from the game’s rules and return to the real world. Even if we discuss game content with friends or online acquaintances using the same computer and mouse, we are no longer in the game world. It is only when we actively control the character and play the game that everything we experience is enveloped by the magic circle created by the game, and the rules of the game give meaning to our actions.