metaworldbuilding
Metaworldbuilding is a practice in speculative fiction and game design that foregrounds the artificiality of a fictional world by making its construction, rules, and reception a focal point. It treats the process of world creation as part of the narrative or experience, rather than a hidden background.
It differs from traditional worldbuilding, which aims to create coherent settings for narrative, by explicitly examining
Common techniques include in-universe documentation, encyclopedic entries, and meta-narrative interventions in which characters discuss or question
Metaworldbuilding appears across media, including novels, film and television, tabletop role-playing games, and video games. It
Critics warn that heavy self-reference can disrupt immersion, feel gimmicky, or obscure plot momentum if not