We Become What We Behold
Play We Become What We Behold Online
We Become What We Behold is a short, experimental browser game by Nicky Case about news cycles and the way attention can shape a crowd. You do not control a character through a platform level. Instead, you move a camera frame over small scenes and choose which moments to photograph. The images appear as news, and the people watching them respond. The simple action gives the game room to explore a larger idea: what is selected, repeated, and broadcast can influence what people notice and how they behave.
A complete playthrough takes only a few minutes. That short length makes each photograph feel deliberate: look at the characters, decide what moment to frame, then watch how the sequence changes. The game is an interactive story and social commentary, not a score-based action challenge. It contains depictions of hostility and violence, so it may not be suitable for every audience.
A Camera Is the Only Tool
Move the mouse to position the viewfinder around the scene. When an interesting moment is in frame, click to take a picture and follow the prompt that appears. The game then shows the effect of that image through its news cycle. Pay attention to what the camera includes and what it leaves out; the choice of a single image is the central interaction.
There is no complicated inventory or long tutorial to learn. The meaning comes from observing how the crowd reacts across multiple moments. Rather than trying to optimize a score, follow the prompts and notice the relationship between the images you publish and the responses that follow.
Main Features
- Short interactive experience: A complete session takes only a few minutes.
- Mouse-driven camera: Frame moments in a moving crowd and click to take a photo.
- News-cycle theme: See how selected images become part of a repeating public story.
- Minimal visual language: Simple characters and a compact scene keep attention on the choices.
- Creator-made browser game: Created by Nicky Case and released as an HTML5 game.
- Reflective storytelling: The focus is on interpretation and social feedback, not high scores.
How to Play We Become What We Behold
Move the mouse to aim the camera frame at the characters. Click when a moment is in view and the game is ready for a photograph. Read the on-screen feedback and let the next scene unfold. Continue following the prompts until the short sequence is complete. The game uses mouse input, so a desktop or laptop with a pointer is the most straightforward way to play.
How to Approach the Story
- Observe before taking a photo: Look at who is in the frame and what is happening between them.
- Notice what the crop excludes: A camera frame can change how a moment is presented.
- Follow the consequences: Watch how a broadcast affects the people who see it.
- Let the sequence finish: The later scenes build on what came before.
- Reflect rather than chase a score: The experience is designed around its theme and interpretation.
News, Attention, and Repeating Cycles
The title points to the central idea: people are affected by what they repeatedly see. A camera operator can choose a dramatic moment, a quiet exchange, or something that seems ordinary, and that selection becomes part of a larger cycle. The game communicates this with a small set of interactions rather than a long explanation. Its short format makes it easy to revisit and consider how a different framing choice might alter the story, while keeping the focus on the player's role as the one deciding what receives attention.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who created We Become What We Behold? It was created by Nicky Case.
How do I play? Aim the mouse camera, click to take a picture, and follow the on-screen prompts.
How long is a playthrough? It is a short experience of about a few minutes.
Is it a competitive action game? No. It is an experimental point-and-click story about media and society.
Does the game contain mature themes? It depicts social hostility and violence. Consider the content before starting.