How do you spark excitement for medieval history in secondary school students? Sanne Frequin, art historian and Assistant Professor at Utrecht University, has the answer: MedievalMe. This innovative Dutch serious game immerses students in the medieval worldview. “We wanted to create a game that teachers could use straight away,” Frequin says, “and that’s what we did.”

A medieval manuscript turned into an escape room

At the heart of MedievalMe is a virtual version of Der Naturen Bloeme, an encyclopaedia from the collection of the KB National Library of the Netherlands, written by the Netherlands’ most prominent medieval poet Jacob van Maerlant (c. 1235–1300). It is packed with vibrant illustrations and curious tales about natural phenomena and mythical creatures – from geese that grow on trees to people with feet so large they are used as umbrellas.

The game transforms the classroom into a ‘digital escape room’. Working in teams, students navigate the sometimes bizarre medieval world by solving puzzles and unravelling mysteries. Along the way, they not only learn about the manuscript but also about the medieval society in which Der Naturen Bloeme was written.

Cross-disciplinary collaboration in action

MedievalMe also teaches students how different disciplines can complement and strengthen each other, Frequin explains. She developed the game in collaboration with game designers from Doyle Studio and conservators from the KB. “What I love most about my academic work is teaming up with experts from other fields. I’m proud we’ve captured this in a game, allowing secondary school students to experience the power of collaboration themselves.”

The game was created with input from secondary school teachers in the Netherlands. “Before we started developing, we interviewed teachers to understand their needs,” Frequin says. “Teachers often lack time and resources, and many lesson packages require a lot of preparation. MedievalMe is designed to be simple and ready to use straight away.”

About MedievalMe

MedievalMe is free for teachers and designed for use on mobile phones, tablets, and laptops. It was funded by the Dutch Research Agenda (Nationale Wetenschapsagenda, NWA), which aims to bring science closer to society, and has already won the People’s Choice Award at the 2023 International Games in Education Festival.

This article initially appeared on Utrecht University’s news site.