South African developer Nyamakop Studios has unveiled Relooted, a video game in which players plan heists to recover African artworks stolen during colonialism. The title, with narrative and heist-style gameplay, is inspired by real pieces now scattered in European and North American museums.
The proposal seeks to make visible the patrimonial plundering suffered by Africa. According to figures cited by its creators, around 90 % of sub-Saharan art is found outside the continent. Relooted proposes a playful and symbolic response: to virtually steal what was taken in real life.
The game includes more than 70 authentic artefacts, such as the Ngadji royal drum (preserved in Belgium) or the Broken Hill skull (held by the Natural History Museum in London). Each mission is inspired by historical events and has a narrative that contextualises the cultural relevance of the artefacts.
Samba Yonga, founder of the Zambian Museum of History and a partner in the project, stresses the importance of these stories being told from the African perspective. "For years others have narrated for us," she says. The video game, she argues, is also an educational tool.
Launched at Summer Game Fest, Relooted will be available on Steam, Epic Games and Xbox Series X|S. Its creators claim that they not only seek to entertain, but also to generate debate on the restitution of cultural property.
The release date has not yet been confirmed, but the project has already caught the attention of the public and critics for its original and vindictive approach.
Source: pcgamer.com; okayafrica.com