Let’s play at Asian Civilisations Museum’s newest exhibition – The Artwork and Design of Asian Video games, devoted to the historical past and evolution of video games many people are accustomed to. Starting 5 September 2025 until 7 June 2026, households can play and make recollections at ACM’s exhibition and make use of the SG Tradition Cross too!
Visiting ACM’s Lets Play! Exhibition: The Artwork & Design of Asian Video games
It had been ages since I final visited the Asian Civilisations Museum within the coronary heart of Singapore’s central enterprise district. The identify of the museum introduced again fond recollections of secondary faculty excursions to be taught extra about varied artwork items and archeological findings within the Asian area.
You could have written off these priceless artifacts as junk earlier than, however the newest stuff within the Particular Displays Gallery situated on Degree 2 of the museum titled, “The Artwork and Design of Asian Video games” is certainly value a go to.
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I’ve all the time believed play and gamification to be severe motivators in getting people to be taught or do one thing, be it technique, ideas or clear up (cue Mary Poppins’ “Only a spoonful of sugar”).
Additionally they strengthen bonds within the household and group and hopefully, assist us to construct higher variations of ourselves.
This exhibition reveals simply how a lot thought and creativity went into the gorgeous creation of the video games we, as a society, used to play, and nonetheless play at the moment. It marries artwork and design, revealing how geography, historical past and tradition have been delicately woven into game-making and taking part in.
What to Anticipate at Asian Civilisations Museum’s Let’s Play! Exhibition
From Enjoying to Gaming: Board Video games on Show
Upon getting into the exhibit, you’ll examine how taking part in a sport is totally different from simply playing- a considerate hook certainly. Video games contain creating an structure of guidelines and having a purpose on the finish.
I significantly loved trying on the intricate designs on the earliest sport boards within the exhibit.
Additionally, you will be capable to have a really feel of various supplies which were used to make board video games.
All these had been positioned at baby top and I preferred the little missions to spy together with your little eye, the place the assorted sport boards had been all through the exhibit.
There’s a giant board sport proper subsequent to the contact and really feel part that I used to be stunned to find- an outdated model of a well-known sport I nonetheless play with my youngsters, the sport of snakes and ladders.
It introduced the concept of instructing morals and values via video games to the forefront. Snakes introduced you down, farther from profitable the sport, once you dedicated a sin. Ladders introduced you up, nearer to finishing the sport, once you landed on an motion that was type or demonstrated foresight or different centred-ness.
Card Video games in Asia
You’ll then attain a piece the place there’s a assortment of card video games which have traversed Asia over time.
These card video games embrace cherki, the same old deck of playing cards and dominoes. There’s additionally a ravishing mat that has playing cards embroidered onto it.
These video games jogged my memory of Chinese language New 12 months the place my Peranakan aunties and grandmother would collect round a spherical marble desk and play all through the season. They actually did bond over cherki and congkak!
From Historical to Fashionable
The following part will carry you to a extra present choice with associations in Singapore that also promote and play these video games competitively at the moment.
There have been areas devoted to Weiqi, Xiang Qi, Shogi and Chess, amongst others.
The tiny historic collectible figurines carry a lot historical past to the desk. We’re in a position to inform how rich the proprietor of the sport set was, which a part of Asia influenced the maker of the sport set, and the doable availability of supplies within the area, simply by analyzing these items.
Maybe a spotlight on this space is the chess characteristic that cycles video clips and footage of an intense FIDE world championship match between Chinese language participant Ding Liren and India’s D. Gukesh.
The setup makes use of the identical chess desk and chairs within the nail biting match held in Singapore 2024. Enjoyable truth, Singapore’s internet hosting of the first ING Cup finals within the Nineteen Eighties was an inspiration for the 2025 award-winning Korean movie, The Match. These remind us of how nationwide satisfaction is a lot felt in what these video games are identified as- thoughts sports activities.
The exhibition is notably, a playable exhibition. It is possible for you to to have a go at Go (Get it?? Get it??), also referred to as Wei Qi, and chess.
AI in video games
In the direction of the top of the exhibition, I used to be delighted to seek out an interactive sport of Chess and Go being performed with a robotic arm. This was actually a testomony as to how AI is being employed to coach chess gamers. There’s even an internet and offline mode that permits gamers to attach with different gamers throughout the globe in the event that they so wished to.
Let’s Play MORE!
In a separate Let’s play extra! part, there’s an expansive space with larger-than-life sized variations of board video games. Take the time to have a roll of large cube and transfer giant chess items round. Completely instagrammable.
Additionally, you will be capable to borrow video games from a station to take a seat on the tables to play a spherical or two!
I liked the native card video games that had been available- Kopi King, Hawker Wars and Sushi Go! had been a part of the choice. Seats are restricted although, so hopefully you handle to snag a desk!
For youthful youngsters, a scan-your-colouring station is accessible. The sheets are most endearing – they’re board sport items! I had the pleasure of scanning my very own colouring and watching it get despatched up onto a big display the place it journeys throughout a highway map not in contrast to the one within the sport “The sport of life”.
Issues to Observe Earlier than Visiting the Exhibition
There are two entrances to the ACM and you can see the riverfront entrance has an out of doors extension to the exhibit- nice for photographs with the youngsters. Checkmates! is an set up by worldwide artists Vendy Menthodos and Osheen Siva.
The federal government initiative of the Tradition Cross simply launched on the first of September 2025. Singapore residents 18 years and above are given $100 in credit to spend on native arts and heritage occasions. This exhibition will qualify as one of many occasions so that you can use your credit on.
Let’s play! The Artwork and Design of Asian Video games runs from 5 September 2025 to 7 June 2026 on the Asian Civilisations Museum. Tickets are priced at $12 for Singaporeans and PRs and $25 for vacationers and overseas residents.
Complement your journey to the exhibition with a go to to ACM & Me for a time of sensory play and studying.
The closest MRT station is Raffles place MRT and is a picturesque 5 minute stroll throughout a bridge to the doorstep of the ACM.
