Digital Games in Museums: Interactive Experiences for Visitors
The computer games industry is booming, skepticism towards gaming is fading and many museums are using computer games for their educational and outreach work. But how can we use digital games for museum learning?
Together with Sebastian Senger.
Digital games open up new possibilities for museums in terms of visitor engagement. But which formats work - and what matters when designing them?
Four Museums and Their Digital Games
Memory - Museum of Industrial Culture Nuremberg
A simple memory game with 8 pairs of images, designed for children. Clear rules, low barrier to entry.
”Democracy and Dictatorship” - LeMO (Foundation House of History / DHM / Federal Archives)
A drag-and-drop game: photographs of objects are assigned either to the GDR or the Federal Republic. Conveys historical context knowledge in a playful way.
”Decision Game” - Jewish Museum Berlin
Developed for the special exhibition “Robbery and Restitution” (2008). Four characters, 16 playable variants - the game illustrates different perspectives on restitution processes and makes the complexity of historical decision-making tangible.
Sachsen-Böhmen-7000-Telelernen - State Museum of Archaeology Chemnitz (smac)
Four mini-games in the style of outdated Windows versions: Fake Postcards, Berggeschrey, Lukas Cranach Jump ‘n’ Run, Pümpelschießen. An ironic and playful approach to archaeological content.
Colmar Aventure
A native app with five tours through the city of Colmar. QR codes on objects link the physical urban space with digital content. Target audience: families with children aged 7-12.
Design Recommendations
The following recommendations can be drawn from evaluating these and further examples:
- Simple game mechanics and intuitive operation - visitors have no time for lengthy instructions
- Responsive design for smartphones and tablets
- The game should remain understandable and usable independently of the current exhibition
- Digital games primarily address the learning dimensions “Knowledge & Understanding” and “Joy, Inspiration & Creativity”
A Living Culture of Remembrance Through Digital Games
The Foundation for Digital Gaming Culture has compiled a list of games that address topics related to remembrance culture. One example: Through Darkest of Times - a strategy game in which players make strategic decisions as part of a resistance group fighting National Socialism.
The Hamburg Foundation for Memorial Sites and Places of Learning is currently developing a game as an educational resource for school classes: Die Kinder vom Bullenhuser Damm. This shows how digital games can be a suitable format for conveying even very serious and sensitive topics.