In a groundbreaking move, Nyamakop, an African-based game studio, has launched “Relooted,” a video game that revolves around the theft of African artifacts from museums and private residences to restore them to their rightful African owners. Despite its seemingly fictional premise, the game incorporates genuine artifacts, emphasizing the historical authenticity of the narrative.
Nomali, the protagonist, is a skilled young woman adept in parkour and free running, returning to Johannesburg from Tanzania to reunite with her family in a futuristic setting. Motivated by the concealment of African collections by Western museums in defiance of repatriation agreements, Nomali, together with her team, embarks on a mission to infiltrate museums and private collectors’ estates to reclaim significant artifacts and repatriate them to Africa.
The game sheds light on the extensive issue of African artifacts held outside the continent, with UNESCO estimating that up to 95% of these treasures are housed in Western institutions. Many of these artifacts were pilfered by Western colonizers and are either hidden in museums or traded on the black market.
One of the early missions in the game involves the retrieval of the Benin Bronzes, part of the Kingdom of Benin’s collection, with some already repatriated to Nigeria while others remain in British museums.
Nyamakop, known for its previous game “Semblance,” made a pivotal shift to African-inspired content following the success of “Black Panther.” By grounding the game’s narrative in reality, the studio aims to avoid the fictional portrayal of Africa seen in movies like “Black Panther” and provide players with a vision of the future set in authentic African locations.
The gameplay involves strategic planning and heist execution, with players guiding Nomali through missions to liberate artifacts while evading security measures. The focus on non-violent heist mechanics distinguishes “Relooted” from conventional action-based games, offering a refreshing and engaging experience for players.
As players progress, they recruit team members with unique abilities to enhance their heist strategies, adding complexity and depth to the gameplay. The immersive storyline, coupled with captivating voice acting and vibrant visuals, enriches the player experience, fostering emotional connections with the characters and their mission.
“Relooted” combines elements of classic adventure and modern run-based games, enticing players to replay levels for improved performance and efficiency. Despite occasional setbacks, the game’s immersive narrative and challenging puzzles make it a compelling and memorable experience, introducing players to diverse stories from African history.
Nyamakop’s “Relooted” offers a novel perspective on African storytelling in gaming and represents a significant milestone for players engaging with content from an African development team. With its release on PC and Xbox, including Xbox Game Pass, the game invites players to embark on an exhilarating journey of reclamation and discovery within the gaming world.
