A team of archaeologists has used artificial intelligence (AI), an open source platform, and basic video tools to develop a 3D educational prehistoric video game that brings the Stone Age to life. The project provides a low-cost and accessible way to recreate prehistoric environments, and researchers call it a step forward in how cultural history is conveyed digitally.
This prehistoric video game was created by archaeologists from the University of Copenhagen and the University of Bergen. It was built using Unreal Engine, an AI-driven design approach, and tutorial resources available on YouTube. According to the team, this method significantly reduces production time and costs while avoiding the need for advanced technical skills.
Prehistoric ruins recreated with AI characters
This game is part of the migration research project “Deep Histories of Migration” and focuses on the Neolithic period in Northern Europe. The work, set on-site on the Danish island of Funen, uses real video footage shot by researchers in two long dolmens on Lindeskov-Hästehave.
Players explore the area and interact with two AI-powered characters: an archaeologist and a Stone Age woman. Each character has a programmed background story and can respond in multiple languages, creating a flexible and immersive learning experience.
Mikkel Nortoft, an archaeologist at the University of Copenhagen, explained that using generative AI allowed the team to skip traditional script writing.
Instead, characters generate dialogue from research-based prompts and custom knowledge bases. This allows you to easily update content as new archaeological insights come to light, keeping the game grounded in current research.
AI and prehistoric video game development
Until now, the development of immersive history games has been largely limited to large commercial studios due to their high production costs and the need for technical expertise.
Popular titles like Assassin's Creed and Civilization depict historical themes, but often without a focus on accuracy. Nortoft and his colleagues see their project as a practical alternative for academic and museum professionals.
The game, which the team describes as an example rather than a finished product, aims to show newcomers to digital storytelling what's possible. Nortoft said most educational institutions can learn to leverage their own expertise to build simple interactive experiences with minimal guidance.
Their findings were published in the journal Advances in Archaeological Practice, with the aim of guiding other professionals interested in using technology to present history in new and engaging ways.
