From tradition to interaction: A systematic literature review of cultural heritage representation in entertainment videogames

Yixiang Que; Teresa De La Hera; Jeroen Jansz

doi:10.7557/ejcgc.v16i2.7898

Authors

Yixiang Que Erasmus University Rotterdam https://orcid.org/0009-0002-8350-3297
Teresa De La Hera Erasmus University Rotterdam https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5102-813X
Jeroen Jansz Erasmus University Rotterdam https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7206-3102

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.7557/ejcgc.v16i2.7898

Keywords:

videogames, cultural heritage, history, culture, representation, systematic literature review

Abstract

Nowadays, an increasing number of videogames have incorporated cultural heritage elements that belong to a wide variety of regions. This has prompted a growing body of academic research regarding this topic. This paper presents the results of a systematic literature review, investigating how different aspects of cultural heritage are represented in entertainment videogames. A thematic analysis of 80 publications was conducted, categorising the studied cultural heritage elements into tangible and intangible themes of cultural heritage. Our review revealed that existing publications have extensively explored the representation of tangible cultural heritage in games, especially architecture and artefacts. In contrast, the representation of intangible cultural heritage has received significantly less attention, such as religious rituals, folklore, and symbolic references. Moreover, we observed that game designers tend to select cultural heritage elements familiar to their target audiences, which lied in depictions of historical periods, notable historical figures, and architectural styles. Finally, this review highlights gaps in current research including a narrow focus on certain game genres and a lack of in-depth study on the representation of intangible cultural heritage.

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