Games bring ancient texts to life

By turning ancient texts into immersive puzzles, these games spark curiosity and invite players to discover history in new, exciting ways.

This month, the National Museum of Classic Books delighted visitors with the much-anticipated return of its immersive mystery game, Ancient Book Restorer: Hundred Cities Book.

In this engaging experience, players take on the role of a skilled ancient book restorer. Guided by detailed manuals, they delve into classic texts, uncover hidden clues, and piece together puzzles to solve the mystery.

The game, which has garnered over 59,000 views on the Chinese lifestyle platform Xiaohongshu (Red-Note), was developed by Puzzle Master, a pioneering Chinese tech company.

Since its founding in 2019, Puzzle Master has designed over 60 interactive games for museums, successfully attracting younger audiences — typically aged 20 to 30 — and making museums more accessible through playful, hands-on experiences.

"The idea first came to me while I was traveling in Europe," said Dai Ying, founder of Puzzle Master. "At the Louvre, I saw a group of children having an art class in front of the Mona Lisa. It inspired me to create something similar for museums in China."

Dai observed that many young museumgoers tended to engage passively with exhibits, often relying on guided tours rather than actively exploring. This sparked her vision for a more interactive alternative: games.

"Games encourage active discovery," Dai said. "They offer instant feedback and a compelling storyline that draws players in."

She noted that players often form emotional connections with their characters and are given tools to overcome various challenges.

"This kind of engagement is something traditional learning methods often lack," she said. "Ironically, games — frequently criticized by parents and teachers — can actually deliver meaningful educational value."