Reclaiming looted artifacts… A new indie game that prioritizes cultural reclamation.
African indie studio Nyamakop’s development has drawn attention from international users and critics.
African indie game studio Nyamakop officially released ‘Relooted’, an action-adventure game with Africanfuturism at its forefront, on Steam on February 10th.
‘Relooted’ is a work that overturns the formula of the existing treasure hunting genre with the core theme of cultural reclamation, based on a worldview that combines African history, art, and futuristic imagination.
“It’s not about stealing the treasure, it’s about retrieving it.”
The most striking feature of “Relooted” is its narrative starting point. The game depicts a group of modern-day heroes on a mission to reclaim “looted” African cultural heritage items from museums around the world.
This overturns the recurring “relic hunting” narrative in Western-centric narratives, conveying a clear message of returning cultural assets lost during colonial history to their original homeland. Indeed, all 70 artifacts featured in the game are real-world objects, holding immense cultural, historical, and spiritual significance for the communities plundered.
The game is set in the late 21st century. The Transatlantic Treaty of 1918 promised the repatriation of African artifacts, but a revised version of the treaty stipulates that only publicly displayed artifacts will be returned. In response, museums begin secretly removing artifacts from their displays, prompting the protagonist, Nomali, and her team to embark on a new form of “diplomacy.”
The worldview, which combines African history, art forms, and futuristic sensibilities, goes beyond simple background settings and is deeply reflected in the game’s overall character design, spatial composition, and story structure.
A modern adventure combining action and stealth.
‘Relooted’ is a third-person adventure game that combines action, stealth, and puzzle elements, where players work in teams to breach a museum’s security systems and retrieve targeted artifacts.
Each character possesses unique abilities and roles, requiring strategic use depending on the situation. Beyond simple combat, the game’s structure emphasizes the fun of planning and execution through approaches utilizing the environment, stealth play that involves understanding guard patterns, and role-sharing among team members. Through this, “Relooted” demonstrates an attempt to organically combine narrative message and gameplay.
“Aiming for a game that is both African and world-class.”
Nyamakop is a South African-based indie game studio focused on translating African culture and narrative into games. Their flagship game, “Semblance,” has garnered global attention for its unique worldview and design.
“Relooted is more than just a game; it’s a celebration of African creativity, history and imagination,” said Ben Myres, CEO and Creative Director of Nyamakop. “We wanted to create a game that has a distinctly African identity, while also meeting world-class technical and narrative standards.”
“We wanted to prove that African stories can be competitive on the global stage,” he continued, adding that he hopes this project will serve as an example of the potential of African game development.
Aiming for both cultural significance and gameplay amidst positive reviews
The game received a 79% positive rating on Steam (based on 53 reviews) immediately after its release. Major gaming outlets like IGN, GameSpot, and The Gamer also praised the game during its Summer Game Fest demo.
GameSpot praised it, saying, “It’s a wonderful experience of meticulous planning and split-second reactions that lead to a perfect escape, making it one of the most anticipated games of 2025.” The Gamer praised it, saying, “It’s the only heist game that makes you feel like a true master thief.”
The game is currently available on Steam for a 10% off launch price of $13.49 (regularly $14.99) until February 24th, with a “What a Steal! Edition” bundle, which includes the soundtrack, available for a 15% discount for $16.05. A demo version is also available for free.
“Relooted” goes beyond simply being an indie game with a unique setting. It poses questions about how the medium of gaming can engage with history, culture, and identity. The world and narrative, reimagined from an African perspective, offer a perspective rarely seen in the existing gaming market.
A challenging blend of Afrofuturism and modern action adventure, and a meaningful message of cultural reclamation, ‘Relooted’ is establishing itself as a notable new release in the global indie game market.
Steam Store Page:
https://store.steampowered.com/app/3255890/Relooted/
