Exhibition explores how video games interpret war stories and conflict

Video games dominate the entertainment industry today and are a go-to platform when it comes to telling war stories.

Storytelling continues to be at the heart of the sector, and just as combat changes through time, London's Imperial War Museum (IWM) is walking through the evolution from battleship board games to virtual franchises.

IWM London's War Games exhibition asks how conflict is portrayed, allowing visitors to explore the relationship between video games and conflict, the virtual and the real.

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It showcases a broad range of video games, from familiar first-person shooters to strategic survival games set against the backdrop of conflicts.

More niche titles telling strong pieces of interactive fiction are also on display, like 'Bury me, my Love' – which tells the story of a Syrian refugee and her husband on their perilous journey to safety in Europe.

Categorised as a text messaging adventure game, it is played through the text messages of the couple as they try to ensure the refugee reaches their destination safely.

The exhibition considers how video games can shape our understanding of conflict and reflect the truths of war.

IWM London's interactive showcase is free to visit until the 28 May 2023.