A Virtual Reality Educational Game for the Ethics of Cultural Heritage Repatriation

The technology of virtual reality and the gamification of education has had proven educational benefits and has the ability to immerse students in a participatory learning experience. To capitalize on the strengths of the new digital medium, including immersion, engagement, and presence, a new educational game aims to teach the ethics of cultural heritage repatriation through the lens of art history. The use of games to address current issues and conceptualize a framework for understanding the complexities of geopolitics is not new but aligning these considerations with the pressing need to protect cultural heritage as seen in modern-day Ukraine is. This study investigates the process of game design and development from preproduction to postproduction. The final version of The Museum of the Lost provides a model for other institutions with game design and art history departments to collaborate and create educational experiences that optimize the user experience and learning outcomes.