New Game 'Relooted' Lets Players Reclaim African Artefacts From Western Museums

A recently released video game, Relooted, allows players to conduct virtual heists to reclaim African artefacts from Western museums. This game has surfaced amidst ongoing global discussions and pressure for institutions to return cultural items to their countries of origin. The developer's stated aim is to offer a hopeful perspective on what the return of these artefacts might feel like.

Context and Development

Relooted, developed by the South African studio Nyamakop, was launched on AllKeyShop.com. The game centers around a team of African citizens who plan and execute missions to "reclaim" 70 real-world African artefacts displayed in Western museums. The gameplay involves elements of planning, movement, improvisation, and escape, described as a stylish heist platformer with parkour.

The inspiration for the game reportedly stemmed from a personal experience. Ben Myres, chief executive of Nyamakop, stated he began developing the game in 2018 after his mother expressed outrage upon seeing the Nereid Monument, a tomb from Turkey, displayed at the British Museum. The game aims to provide players with a "hopeful, utopian feeling" of artefact repatriation, a process that Myres described as "enormously complicated and has been ongoing for decades."

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The game features virtual museum settings, with one exception: the Museum of Black Civilisations in Dakar, Senegal. Players return the "reclaimed" artefacts to this museum before their symbolic journey to their home countries. The game's aesthetic reportedly blends futuristic technology with traditional African motifs.

Evidence and Gameplay Mechanics

• Objective: Players are tasked with reclaiming 70 real-world artefacts.

• Gameplay Style: Described as a heist platformer with parkour elements, emphasizing pace and pressure. Gameplay involves planning, movement, improvisation, and escape.

• Narrative Framing: The game's design reportedly focuses on repatriation rather than glorifying theft, aiming to provide players with an empowering experience and a virtual alternative to real-world challenges.

• Specific Artefacts Mentioned:

• The Nereid Monument (inspiration for the game).

• The Kabwe Skull (also known as Broken Hill Man), a fossil from Zambia held in London's Natural History Museum.

• Benin Bronzes, with examples noted as having been returned by institutions like Berlin's Ethnologisches Museum and Cambridge University to Nigeria.

• Museums Featured (Virtual): While some museums are virtual, the Museum of Black Civilisations in Dakar is presented as a point of return. Other institutions referenced as holding artefacts include the British Museum, London's Natural History Museum, Berlin's Ethnologisches Museum, and Cambridge University.

Motivations and Developer Insights

Ben Myres explained that the game was created to offer a "hopeful, utopian feeling" regarding the return of artefacts, acknowledging the complex and lengthy nature of real-life repatriation efforts. He noted that real-world repatriation has been a decades-long, sometimes century-long, process.

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Sithe Ncube, a producer on the game, highlighted her realization during development of the extensive number of African cultural artefacts held abroad. The game is intended to raise awareness and foster dialogue about cultural restitution.

The developers state that players are not "taking something into hiding for personal gain" and that the characters are not portrayed as career criminals. The intention is to offer a virtual experience of reclaiming what is considered "stolen history."

Broader Context: Artefact Repatriation

The release of Relooted occurs against a backdrop of increased calls for Western museums to return artefacts acquired during colonial periods.

• Arguments for Repatriation: Proponents argue that many artefacts are "stolen" and that their return is a matter of historical justice and cultural restitution.

• Institutional Responses: Some institutions have begun returning artefacts. For example, the British Museum reportedly sent treasures back to India in December of the previous year, an action described as an attempt to "undo colonial misinterpretation." However, other institutions, including the British Museum, are noted as having "resisted calls to return bronzes and other looted objects."

• Challenges: The process of real-life repatriation is acknowledged as being complex and protracted, as stated by Ben Myres.

Thematic Explorations

Virtual Reclamation vs. Real-World Complexity

Relooted offers players a direct, action-oriented method of reclaiming artefacts, presenting an idealized outcome. This stands in contrast to the intricate diplomatic, legal, and ethical considerations that characterize actual repatriation efforts. The game provides an immediate sense of resolution that is often absent in real-world scenarios.

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Cultural Heritage and Identity

The game engages with the concept of cultural heritage being displaced and held in foreign institutions. By allowing players to "reclaim" these items, it touches upon themes of identity, ownership, and the desire to restore cultural narratives to their origins. The game's aesthetic, blending futuristic elements with traditional African motifs, also suggests a forward-looking perspective on African cultural continuity.

The Role of Games in Social Dialogue

Relooted is positioned not just as entertainment but as a tool for sparking conversation. Its creators hope it will contribute to the broader discussion about the importance of repatriation and the ongoing struggle for African cultural heritage. The game's ability to blend entertainment with social commentary is a key aspect of its design.

Conclusion and Implications

Relooted serves as a digital exploration of the complex issue of artefact repatriation. By translating the real-world demand for restitution into a gameplay mechanic, the game provides a novel perspective. While the developers emphasize a "hopeful, utopian feeling" and a focus on reclaiming stolen heritage, the game also implicitly highlights the significant obstacles present in achieving actual repatriation. The project has garnered attention, positioning itself as a potentially significant cultural game that aims to engage players with historical and ethical questions surrounding cultural artefacts held in Western institutions.

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Sources:

• Daily Mail: https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-15581579/African-video-game-lets-players-reloot-artefacts-displayed-Western-museums.html - Provides an overview of the game's premise, gameplay, and its connection to ongoing repatriation debates.

• The Guardian: https://www.theguardian.com/games/2026/feb/21/south-african-video-game-artefacts-western-museums - Details the developer's inspiration, the complexity of real-life repatriation, and specific artefacts mentioned in the game.

• Archyde: https://www.archyde.com/relooted-game-lets-players-reclaim-african-artefacts-from-western-museums/ - Focuses on the game's aesthetic, its virtual alternative to real-world repatriation, and the creators' hopes for sparking dialogue.

• Swik Blog: https://swikblog.com/relooted-south-african-video-game-reclaim-artefacts-western-museums/ - Describes the gameplay mechanics and emphasizes the "real-world heartbeat" of the game.

• The World from PRX: https://theworld.org/stories/2026/02/16/a-new-south-african-video-heist-game-robs-museums-to-return-african-art - Explores the question of whether taking back stolen items constitutes theft and discusses the characters' motivations.

• BritBrief: https://britbrief.co.uk/tech/software/relooted-game-players-reclaim-stolen-african-artefacts.html - Highlights the game's focus on repatriation over glorifying theft and includes personal connections of the game producer.

• France 24: https://www.france24.com/en/live-news/20250627-game-reloots-african-artefacts-from-western-museums - Provides a narrative example of gameplay and details the number of artefacts players are tasked with reclaiming.