History and video games: the prehistoric world brought to life with the help of artificial intelligence

The meeting of history and video games is not merely about entertainment. Researchers at Scandinavian universities have demonstrated that through a range of digital solutions, the past can be not only presented but truly experienced, as the boundaries between science and interactive experience gradually blur.

In the age of digitalisation – particularly since the turn of the millennium – video games have attracted growing interest. Over the years, an increasing number of genres have emerged, among them the relatively new category known as archeogames, which aim to establish a connection between history and video games.

In a study published in Advances in Archaeological Practice, researchers from the University of Copenhagen and the University of Bergen show that the development of interactive, historically authentic video games is no longer the exclusive domain of large-budget studios. The concept of the archeogame allows archaeologists themselves to create digital learning experiences, even without extensive technical expertise.

Archeogames as the intersection of history and video games

In recent decades, archaeological outreach has relied primarily on videos, static exhibitions and pre-scripted multimedia content. While these methods remain effective to a certain extent, they rarely provide a truly immersive, interactive experience in museum or educational contexts. Archeogames, by contrast, represent a digital format in which the player becomes an active participant, stepping out of the role of passive observer.

According to a report by Archaeology News, Scandinavian researchers have created a three-dimensional game with a Neolithic theme, evoking the prehistoric world of Northern Europe. The development made use of freely available software such as Unreal Engine, while also incorporating AI-driven dialogue systems and publicly accessible tutorials. The result is a game that is both easy to navigate and rich in content, employing particularly engaging methods to connect history and video games.

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Real data and living dialogue

The game is built upon real archaeological data. The virtual environment was modelled using 3D scans of well-preserved Neolithic dolmens located in the Lindeskov Hestehave area of Denmark. Players can explore a forest clearing where they interact with two digital characters: an archaeologist and a prehistoric woman.