Games aren’t just fun—they’re a gateway to cultural exploration, critical thinking, and creativity. This engaging webinar introduces the concept of archaeogaming, where archaeology and play intersect to spark discovery and connection. Learn how libraries can harness both digital and tabletop games to bring the ancient world—and cultural interpretation—to life for patrons of all ages. We’ll explore standout titles like Never Alone, Assassin’s Creed, Heaven’s Vault, No Man’s Sky, Civilization VI, and Pentiment, alongside a variety of program-ready ideas such as Play & Learn Game Nights, Virtual Digs and Alien Archaeology, Decode the Past: Ancient Language Challenges, and History vs. Game Night.
Whether you’re a gamer or not, you’ll leave with hands-on ideas and accessible tools to build engaging, culturally rich programs rooted in play.
By the end of this session, participants will be able to:
- Define archaeogaming and identify its educational potential for cultural and historical engagement in library settings.
- Evaluate a range of games for their cultural content, design potential, and relevance to different audiences.
- Develop archaeogaming programs that blend storytelling, history, and critical thinking—no gaming expertise required.
Ellyssa Valenti Kroski is the Director of Innovation & Engagement at the New York Law Institute, as well as an award-winning editor and author of 77 books including Law Librarianship in the Age of AI, for which she received the AALL’s 2020 Joseph L. Andrews Legal Literature Award. She is a librarian, adjunct faculty member at San Jose State University, and an international conference speaker.
Ellyssa is currently pursuing a Master’s degree in Egyptology at the University of Manchester, where her dissertation focuses on using extended reality (XR) technologies to support cultural heritage research, education, and display in libraries and museums.
She can be found at: http://www.amazon.com/author/ellyssa
To purchase or learn more about this Niche Tutorial, please get in touch with us by email ([email protected]), call 844-244-0701, or use our request form.
