Step Into the Story Arcade: Where Video Games Bring Tales to Life!

The Story Museum in Oxford has launched a new permanent exhibition called Story Arcade, which explores how video games have changed the way stories are told. Supported by National Lottery funding, the exhibition opened earlier this year and invites visitors to experience storytelling through interactive arcade machines, costumes, board games, and pixel-inspired crafts. The exhibition is designed with neon lights and a retro 1980s look, taking people on a journey through the history of video games, from early classics to the complex, open-world games of today.

Caroline Jones, a representative from the Story Museum, explained that the exhibit offers a fresh perspective on storytelling. She said that after exploring stories from oral traditions in the Whispering Wood and printed literature in the Enchanted Library, visitors can now step into an arcade that is unlike any other. The exhibition features games such as Space Invaders from the 1970s and more recent titles like Never Alone, showing how video games have become an important part of storytelling.

One of the highlights of the exhibition is The Lost Words, a game created by Rhianna Pratchett. She believes that video games have a unique ability to put players at the center of emotionally powerful stories. According to her, games can inspire creativity, empathy, and have a positive impact, especially on young people. The Story Arcade also showcases games developed by young designers from the museum's Digital Dreamers program. These designers worked with professionals to choose stories from the museum's collection and turn them into video games. In addition to the games, visitors can see creative displays like dragon dolls and a variety of toys, making the Story Arcade a place where people of all ages can discover how video games are shaping the future of storytelling.