Barbie, the highest-grossing movie of last year, took the world by storm. The Barbenheimer phenomenon, excellent cast performances, and the viral popularity of its soundtrack fueled the film’s success.
It earned two acting Oscar nominations (amidst controversy over the lack of a third nod) and two more for Best Original Song. While these factors contributed to its triumph, the primary reason for Barbie’s success was the enduring love people have for the iconic toy. Despite some perceiving her as frivolous, Barbie holds deep meaning for many. Personally, I own a collection of Barbie clothing and merchandise, but I’ve realized that I’d really love to have a Barbie video game.
A Brief History of Barbie Video Games
Barbie has a long history of video games, but unfortunately, most early titles simply used her as a symbol of femininity, revolving around dressing up or grooming horses, without truly exploring her character. Even her animated movies, though less complex than Greta Gerwig’s film, did a better job of capturing Barbie’s personality.
While Barbie no longer receives dedicated video game releases, she still appears in mobile games. However, these games often suffer from the same issue as their predecessors: they aim to profit by selling games to girls but lack respect and understanding for what girls and women truly want, resulting in shallow experiences focused on bright pink colors and blonde hair.
Some argue that Barbie herself lacks substance, being just a doll whose personality is defined by whoever holds her. She is a children’s toy, often negatively associated with unattainable body standards, sexualized outfits, and reinforcing anti-feminist views of women. However, Barbie cannot simultaneously represent nothing while also embodying everything wrong with the depiction of women in media.
Do None Of These Barbies Have Video Game Potential?
The message of Barbie was never about women being superior to men or simply accepting oneself. Instead, it encouraged unapologetically embracing femininity while still achieving greatness, without succumbing to the notion that feminine pursuits are frivolous.
Translating this message into a video game is a challenge. Directly adapting the film isn’t possible, and aside from dressing up and horseback riding, few elements from Barbie’s world naturally lend themselves to gamification. While I’ve previously advocated for a Disney Princess game featuring action-oriented characters like Elsa, Mulan, or Raya, similar to Tomb Raider, that approach wouldn’t suit Barbie either.
I don’t have a specific pitch for a Barbie game. I simply want a well-crafted game that captures the essence of Barbie. Given the movie’s immense popularity, surely someone out there has an idea? If a Barbie kart racer is announced soon, you can blame me.
