Tracing Time Through Sound in Skábma : Re-voicing Voiceless Time

In Skábma: Snowfall, each drum strike reveals traces of past fires and hidden paths, gradually making the landscape perceptible. Progress depends on maintaining rhythm rather than speed or mastery. This design reflects a Sámi understanding of sound as a relational practice rather than an aesthetic effect (Renzi, 2025). In Sámi culture, the drum (goavddis) is considered a living being whose agency unfolds through relations with land, people, and nonhuman presences (Grini, 2023). Skábma enacts this perspective through gameplay: the drum is the primary interface shaping perception. Rhythm does not accompany action; it determines what can be seen and followed. This article examines how rhythm functions as a gameplay mechanic that trains attention and relational knowing over time, while also considering the limits of translating ritual practice into a digital medium.