At the Russia exhibition forum, the interactive online game Exploring Russia was introduced through the Telegram channel Exhibitions.
The game unfolds as a 3D arcade adventure where animated exhibition volunteers gather RosCoins across Russia’s northern, central, and southern regions. Players traverse virtual landscapes that mirror genuine locales, guided by a cast of characters who express curiosity and pride in national achievements.
According to the Telegram channel, the journey spotlights milestones and technologies Russia can point to with pride. The immersive design invites learning while playing, turning exploration into a hands-on tour through history, innovation, and regional diversity.
Developers noted that the most attentive players uncover a secret level inspired by the multimedia installation Achievements of Russia. This bonus segment adds another layer of discovery, rewarding careful observation and curiosity with access to new content that ties into the broader exhibition narrative.
The international exhibition and forum Russia at VDNKh extended its program through April 12, 2024. The event drew participants from 89 regions, 22 federal executive authorities, and a network of 20 companies, organizations, and public institutions. Their involvement underscored the forum’s role as a platform for showcasing regional innovations, cultural heritage, and collaborative projects across the country. The Exploring Russia game served as an engaging entry point for visitors to experience content linked to national achievements in a dynamic, interactive format.
The project sits within a broader strategy to blend digital interactivity with cultural storytelling, offering attendees a memorable way to engage with Russia’s regional diversity and modern advancements. By pairing play with education, the game aimed to attract a wide audience, including families, students, and professionals, encouraging exploration of both geography and technology in a playful context. The organizers emphasized accessibility and interactivity as core aims, ensuring participation regardless of gaming experience. This approach mirrors a growing trend in exhibitions to incorporate gamified experiences that complement traditional displays while fostering curiosity and dialogue about national progress.
Overall, the Exploring Russia initiative demonstrated how interactive media can deepen visitor engagement at large forums. It showcased how digital games can bridge regional content with national achievements, transforming a static exhibition into a living, participatory experience. Attendees left with a greater appreciation for the country’s diverse regions, the innovations they drive, and the ways in which history and technology intersect in today’s Russia. The project highlighted ongoing collaboration between developers, event organizers, and regional partners in creating compelling experiences for a broad audience. Markers of success included high participation rates, positive feedback from players, and continued interest in the secret level as an incentive to explore further. The game’s footprint at the Russia forum demonstrated the potential of gamified exhibits to enhance learning, curiosity, and cultural pride among visitors from Canada, the United States, and beyond, while remaining rooted in a distinctly Russian context. The dialogue created by the game’s design contributed to a vibrant atmosphere around the exhibition and its ongoing narrative about national achievements and future potential. This dynamic blend of entertainment and education exemplifies how modern exhibitions can evolve to meet diverse audiences while preserving the integrity of the cultural content presented. The Exploring Russia project stands as a case study in successful gamified storytelling within a major international forum, offering a template for future collaborations across museums, cultural centers, and technology partners. Attribution: Exhibitions Telegram channel and organizers of the Russia forum at VDNKh.