Heritage Malta is this week unveiling two innovative video games designed to bring cultural heritage to life through immersive, interactive experiences.
Guardians of Stećci, a 2D web-based platformer created within the European Union Horizon project ‘STECCI’, lets players digitise medieval limestone tombstones known as stećci, which are found across Bosnia and Herzegovina and neighbouring regions and are inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage list.
By integrating authentic 3D scans and 2D assets recorded by Heritage Malta’s digitisation specialists at 15 sites in eight countries, the game highlights the project’s goal of raising awareness about detrimental effects of climate change on cultural heritage.
Relics of the Past: Museum Tycoon marks Heritage Malta’s debut on the global platform Fortnite, where players excavate, conserve, and curate their own digital museums using digitised artefacts from Malta’s national collection.
Both these new projects will be available in demo form during this year’s edition of PlayCon, taking place at the MFCC in Ta’ Qali from October 9 to 12. The public is invited to test them, share feedback and help Heritage Malta continue refining these unique experiences.
Another Heritage Malta game available at Playcon will be Fortress Malta, which was launched earlier this year to commemorate two major milestones – the 50th anniversary of the National War Museum and the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II in Europe.
Now part of the permanent display at Fort St Elmo and the National War Museum, this mixed-reality installation invites players to step into the role of a World War II gunner manning an anti-aircraft Bofors gun during an air raid. Seamlessly blending physical props with immersive virtual environments, the game offers a striking way of reliving Malta’s wartime history.
These innovative games were designed by the agency’s Technology and Experience Development (TED) Unit. Beyond the entertainment aspect, these initiatives embody Heritage Malta’s wider mission to connect people with heritage through technology, creativity, education and accessibility.
Harnessing in-house expertise in coding, game design, animation and testing, the agency is transforming history and contemporary themes such as war, peace, and climate change into interactive experiences enabling a deeper connection with the past and reflection on its relevance today.
Commenting on the initiative, Heritage Malta’s CEO, Noel Zammit, said: “These three games attest to our drive and energy to always keep up with the times and stay ahead even when it comes to technology. In addition, we are continuing to fulfil our mission of guaranteeing our visitors and the public holistic and multisensory experiences, especially for the young ones, on whom the future of our country’s cultural heritage rests.”
