A fresh video game titled “Relooted” by Nyamakop, a studio based in Africa, challenges players to steal African artifacts from museums and private residences to return them to their rightful historical owners. Although it may seem fictional at first glance, the game features real artifacts, as emphasized by Mohale Mashigo, the narrative director of “Relooted.”
The game follows Nomali, a young woman with a background in athleticism, parkour, and free running, who returns to Johannesburg from Tanzania in the near future to visit her family. Motivated by the actions of Western museums concealing their African collections in violation of a repatriation treaty, Nomali’s grandmother enlists her and a small team to infiltrate museums and private collectors’ homes to retrieve key artifacts and bring them back to Africa.
A significant number of African artifacts, estimated to be in the hundreds of thousands, are held outside the continent, with Western institutions alone possessing between 90 and 95 percent of them, according to UNESCO. Many of these artifacts were looted by Western colonizers, and some are still circulating on the black market or in private collections.
In one of the early missions of “Relooted,” players are tasked with recovering two Benin Bronzes, part of a collection belonging to the Kingdom of Benin in present-day Nigeria. While some of these artifacts have been repatriated from Germany and Scotland to Nigeria, others remain in British museums.
Nyamakop’s previous game, the cartoony platformer “Semblance,” did not overtly reflect the studio’s African roots. However, the success of the Marvel movie “Black Panther,” which also touched on the theme of reclaiming African artifacts, inspired a shift in mindset for Ben Myres, the creative director based in Johannesburg.
Myres highlighted the importance of grounding the game’s narrative in reality, thereby avoiding the risk of ‘Wakandification,’ a term referring to the fictional African nation in the “Black Panther” films. The game’s focus on real countries and artifacts, coupled with a visually appealing style, aims to provide players with a futuristic yet authentic experience.
“Relooted” involves strategic planning and execution, with players guiding Nomali through levels to evade security measures and secure the targeted artifacts. The gameplay evolves as Nomali assembles a team with unique abilities to execute more complex heists, offering a blend of adventure, puzzles, and speed challenges akin to games like “Trials.”
The absence of direct combat in the game, apart from encounters with drones and robots, sets it apart from traditional heist games, aligning with Nyamakop’s vision and distinguishing it in the gaming market. The engaging narrative, voice acting, and art style enhance the player’s experience, while also introducing them to lesser-known African historical narratives.
“Relooted” promises an immersive and educational journey for players, shedding light on African history and culture in a captivating gaming format. Scheduled for release on Feb. 10 on PC and Xbox platforms, including Xbox Game Pass, the game aims to leave a lasting impression on players through its unique storytelling and gameplay mechanics.