Known for: Cloud (2005), Flow (2006), Flower (2009), Journey (2012), Sky: Children of the Light (2019)
Biography:
Jenova Chen (born Xinghan Chen, 1981) is a Chinese video game designer, co-founder of thatgamecompany, and one of the most influential figures in experimental game design. Born in Shanghai, China, Chen studied computer science at Shanghai Jiaotong University before moving to the United States to attend the University of Southern California’s Interactive Media program, where he earned his MFA.
Career beginnings:
Chen’s early success came with Cloud (2005), a student project that explored emotional and meditative gameplay. He followed this with Flow (2006), which started as a thesis project at USC and later became one of the first successful downloadable titles on PlayStation Network. These works established his reputation for pushing the boundaries of interactive art.
Notable works and release dates:
- Cloud — 2005
- Flow — 2006
- Flower — 2009
- Journey — 2012
- Sky: Children of the Light — 2019
Style and design philosophy:
Chen’s philosophy centers on creating games that evoke emotions often ignored in mainstream gaming — tranquility, wonder, connection, and empathy. His works strip away traditional competitive elements in favor of cooperative, reflective experiences. Journey, for example, became famous for fostering wordless connections between anonymous players, while Sky: Children of the Light expanded this vision into a social, mobile experience.
Recognition and awards:
- Journey received multiple Game of the Year awards, several BAFTA Awards, and is regarded as one of the greatest games of all time.
- Flower was preserved in the Smithsonian American Art Museum as part of its “The Art of Video Games” exhibition.
- Chen has been recognized globally as a pioneer of emotional and artistic game design.
Sources:
- Wikipedia
- USC Games archives
- Game Developer magazine interviews
- thatgamecompany retrospectives