“Game[in]g Problems” Exhibition in Elche: Video Games Redefine History

Can history be told through video games? Elche’s Alejandro Ramos Folqués Archaeology and History Museum will open the doors to a groundbreaking exhibition on May 16, 2025. The Game[in]g Problems_Historytelling exhibition will explore how video games can represent historical events and offer a new lens for understanding the past through digital art and interactive experiences.

Can Video Games Truly Tell History?

Organized by Miguel Hernández University and the Massiva Research Group, this exhibition questions the role of video games in historical storytelling. It examines how video games can be used not only for entertainment but also as a tool for cultural preservation and historical awareness.

The exhibit invites visitors to reflect on the accuracy of video games in representing the past and the choices made by creators when bringing history to life in a digital medium.

Guernica in Motion: A Digital Art Encounter

One of the exhibition’s highlights will be a digital reimagining of Picasso’s Guernica (1937), transformed into an interactive video game experience. Students from the university have reinterpreted this iconic painting, merging classical art with cutting-edge digital media.

Additionally, classic Spanish paintings will come to life through digital game-inspired graphics, offering a fresh perspective on traditional art forms and their relationship with digital heritage.

Critical Thought and Digital Historical Narratives

The Game[in]g Problems exhibition goes beyond just showcasing video games; it encourages visitors to consider how these games influence our understanding of history. While some games provide critical and thought-provoking takes on historical events, others may oversimplify or distort them.

This section of the exhibition challenges visitors to engage with video games not just as entertainment but as vehicles for critical thinking and ethical responsibility in historical storytelling.

A New Path for Digital Archaeology

With digital character modeling, interactive screens, and animated historical art, the exhibition presents an exciting glimpse into the future of digital archaeology. This innovative approach to historical storytelling offers new ways to engage audiences with the past, while also providing inspiration for how museums and archaeologists can incorporate interactive technologies into their practices.

Visitor Information

• 📅 Opening Date: May 16, 2025
• 📍 Location: Alejandro Ramos Folqués Archaeology and History Museum, Elche, Spain
• 🕒 Duration: Open until the end of summer 2025
• 💻 Collaboration: Miguel Hernández University, Massiva Research Group