Game introduces virtual museum theft, enabling users to seize African artifacts from western institutions
South African video game studio Nyamakop, one of the largest independent game developers in sub-Saharan Africa, has unveiled a new project called Relooted. The anticipated release of this stealth-driven adventure game is set for July 2025, with pre-orders available through Epic Games.
Relooted is a side-scrolling puzzle platformer that takes players on a culturally rich journey through Johannesburg. The game revolves around reclaiming looted African artifacts, with each mission emphasising education and awareness about historical artifact looting.
The developer team spent two years researching which artifacts to include in the game. Each artifact in the game was faithfully rendered into a 3D model based on available photos or scans. One such example is the Ngadji drum, a wooden drum made by the Pokomo people in Kenya. Confiscated by the British in 1902, the Ngadji drum remains in the British Museum's collections despite efforts to have it returned.
Players will join a crew of Robin Hood-esque thieves who steal back stolen African artifacts from Western museums. In each level, players scout facilities, construct an exit route, and steal the artifact before escaping. The game's plot is set in a near future where a Transatlantic Returns Treaty has been brokered, promising the repatriation of African artifacts from museums.
It's important to note that the museums in the game are not real. The treaty only applies to artifacts on "public display," leading museums to place pieces in highly guarded private collections. This factual detail adds an extra layer of challenge to the game, as players must navigate through intricate security systems to retrieve the artifacts.
Relooted is Nyamakop's second game, their first being Semblance, which was the first African-developed original IP to release on a Nintendo game console. The studio, based in Johannesburg, South Africa, includes team members from Zambia, Zimbabwe, Ghana, Nigeria, Ethiopia, and Tanzania, reflecting the diverse cultural backgrounds of the team.
While no concrete final release date has been publicly confirmed, July 2025 is the expected arrival period for Relooted. As anticipation builds in the gaming community, players eagerly await the opportunity to join the mission of reclaiming Africa's cultural heritage.
Players in Relooted will navigate a side-scrolling puzzle platformer, stealing African artifacts from Western museums in a near future where a Transatlantic Returns Treaty promises their repatriation. In this game, a diverse team of developers from across Africa, including South Africa, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Ghana, Nigeria, Ethiopia, and Tanzania, incorporate gadgets and technology in designing levels that feature iconic art pieces, such as the Ngadji drum, currently housed in the British Museum.
