God bless the South, Brother: a paratextual analysis of War of Rights steam reviews

This article employs critical technocultural discourse analysis (CTDA) to analyze 426 Steam reviews of War of Rights, an American Civil War (ACW) first-person shooter, focusing on how players interpret historical representation, modern politics, and Steam’s gamified review features. Reviews praise the game’s visual detail but often include humorous references to the Confederacy, pseudohistorical and revisionist Lost Cause Myth, and racist “roleplay” disguised as authentic gameplay. Posts criticizing toxicity tend to receive Helpful/Funny designations, thereby denigrating critique as entertainment and elevating divisive commentary. A greater focus on Confederate themes reflects both the game’s suggestive title and potential self-selection by players with revisionist views. Situating these dynamics within broader struggles over identity, cultural memory, and right-wing politics, this study argues that ACW games can function as digital reenactments in which pseudohistorical narratives go unchallenged or condoned. The CTDA also examines Steam’s review features and their role in failing to limit historical revisionism.