Digital Culture & AudioVisual Challenges

The video game “Bygones” is a first-person experience that lets the player discover the ruins of an ancient city near Alexandria called Thonis-Heracleion. The player starts off trapped in a cave, already surrounded by artifacts of the past, and their only way out is to venture further into the ancient city. Their only lifeline comes from the cassette tapes left behind by their old mentor and professor, helping them solve puzzles, while also informing the player on the legacy of the city that was thought to be nothing but a myth. “Bygones” is a vibrant and aesthetically pleasing game taking place in the 1960s, tapping into the human instinct of exploration and discovery, as well as making the player feel completely isolated.