Designing a Digital Game for Natureculture Heritage encounters

Human-computer interaction (HCI) increasingly explores the role of digital games in engaging audiences with cultural heritage. While heritage games exist, few effectively inte- grate participatory, reflective, and speculative storytelling to bridge nature and culture. Moreover, existing methods of- ten lack inclusivity and fail to capture the evolving perspec- tives on heritage. Here, we show how an iterative Research through Design (RtD) approach led to the development of the Natureculture Heritage (NCH) Game, evolving from a board game to a digital platform that fosters deep engagement with Madeira’s natureculture heritage. Playtests revealed the game’s ability to enhance participation, inclusivity, and speculative storytelling through mechanics such as char- acter embodiment, multi-perspective narration, and He- ro’s Journey structuring. The study contributes to HCI and heritage research by demonstrating how digital storytell- ing games can support sustainable heritage engagement. Future directions include refining multiplayer interaction, integrating factual content, and expanding accessibility for diverse audiences.