Reclaiming African Artifacts from Western Museums
▼ Summary
– Relooted is a heist-driven game with a focus on planning and setup, despite initial trailers emphasizing parkour gameplay.
– The game follows Nomali, who leads a crew stealing African artifacts to return them to their rightful places in a futuristic 21st-century setting.
– Players plan heists by mapping targets, manipulating objects, and creating escape routes, with missions offering multiple solutions.
– The development team drew inspiration from contemporary African designers and diverse team members to create an authentic futuristic African setting.
– The game gradually introduces complexity by adding crew members as tools, with the full team assembled by Chapter 6, leading to more elaborate heists.
Relooted redefines the heist genre by blending strategic planning with high-stakes parkour in a futuristic African setting. What initially appears as a fast-paced platformer reveals itself as a meticulously crafted puzzle game where preparation matters just as much as execution. Players step into the shoes of Nomali, leading a crew determined to reclaim stolen African artifacts from Western museums, not for profit, but for justice.
The gameplay revolves around two distinct phases: planning and escape. Before each mission, you’ll scrutinize every detail of the target location, identifying lockable doors, breakable windows, and potential zipline routes. Objects like tables can be repositioned to block doors or create makeshift platforms, adding layers of creativity to your strategy. Once the artifact is secured, alarms trigger a frantic dash to freedom, where your earlier preparations determine success or failure.
What sets Relooted apart is its refusal to impose a single solution. Experimentation is encouraged, rewarding players who think outside the box. The half-hour demo I played left me hooked, thanks to its gripping setting, memorable characters, and the sheer satisfaction of seeing a well-devised plan unfold, or improvising when things go awry. Slated for a 2025 release on Xbox Series X|S and PC, it’s already one of my most anticipated titles.
During a recent discussion with South African studio Nyamakop, the team shared insights into the game’s development. Crafting a futuristic Africa required balancing authenticity with functionality. Creative Director Ben Myres explained the challenges of designing outfits that reflect cultural identity while remaining practical for heists. Narrative director Mohale Mashigo highlighted contemporary African designers as key inspirations, ensuring the world feels grounded yet visionary.
The team’s diversity also plays a crucial role. With members spanning Johannesburg, Cape Town, Ethiopia, Ghana, and Nigeria, Relooted benefits from a mosaic of perspectives. Producer Sithe Ncube emphasized how these varied backgrounds enrich everything from pronunciation accuracy to environmental details, like the rooftops, which one tester praised for their unmistakably African authenticity.
Each artifact in the game is based on real stolen treasures, with backstories woven into the narrative. The heists themselves evolve as you recruit new crew members, each bringing unique skills. Early levels ease players into the mechanics, but by Chapter 6, the complexity peaks with sprawling, multi-layered missions that demand tactical precision.
One standout feature is the absence of a planning-phase time limit. Myres noted that early tests with restrictions disrupted the flow, robbing players of the “genius moment” when their plan clicks. Instead, Relooted leans into the thrill of execution, letting players savor their hard-earned victories, or learn from their mistakes.
Mashigo described the crew as your toolkit, with each member enabling new strategies. As levels expand, you’ll face tough choices about positioning and timing, reinforcing the game’s emphasis on teamwork. The final chapters reportedly escalate to near-overwhelming challenges, including one level the team jokingly called “a monster.”
For those craving a cerebral yet adrenaline-fueled experience, Relooted delivers. Its fusion of cultural reverence, strategic depth, and kinetic action makes it more than just a game, it’s a statement.
(Source: GameSpot)