The Heritage Game

This article appeared in Journal of Ancient History and Archaeology (JAHA) (2026, 13(1), pp. 317–326). Drawing on comparative work carried out across the seven Heritage Game partner countries, it distils a transnational portrait of how gamification is being used to revitalise heritage in low-density and peripheral territories. The authors map a curated set of best practices — from QR-coded urban quests and folklore-driven narratives to geocaching geotours and museum-linked digital adventures — and analyse them through the lens of community engagement, sustainability and pedagogical value.

The contribution argues that gamification, when grounded in local knowledge and co-designed with residents, is a powerful catalyst for resilient, community-based heritage work, and proposes a transferable model that other regions can adapt. The published PDF is hosted on this page; see also the JAHA journal website.