Evaluation of Digital Games with Historical Narrative within the Scope of Virtual Museum

With the invention of computer and internet technologies, a new cultural paradigm of living has been established. This culture started to manifest itself across various platforms within the digital world. Major museums around the globe have created virtual museums in digital environments to exhibit their collections to a worldwide audience. These three-dimensional virtual museums, primarily designed for informational purposes, lack interactive features. As stated by ICOM (International Council of Museums) virtual museums are classified into three types: brochure, content, and educational. In these virtual spaces, there is no direct interaction. However, the most advanced environment to exhibit history and art at a higher level to audiences is digital games. Far from being purely entertainment-driven, these digital platforms exhibit significant cultural reflections, attracting millions of users globally. Among the many subgenres of digital games, those rooted in history, mythology, and culture can be considered digital museums or even prospective archives. This study aims to compare such historically inspired games, which authentically reflect the cultural and artistic elements of their respective periods and allow detailed exploration, with virtual museums. It will examine whether these games can be evaluated within the scope of virtual museums. Ultimately, this study argues for a re-evaluation of the scientific perspective on digital games in the context of the current digital age.