Relooted is a stylish and topical heist game about doing crime for the right reasons

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An old joke about colonialism goes like this: “Why aren’t the Egyptian pyramids in the British Museum? Because they’re too big! The irony is that many museums, including the British Museum, house items taken from other cultures without their consent. It’s high time these artifacts were returned to their rightful owners. This is especially true for the British Museum, which has amassed a vast collection of stolen goods during its global conquests. Yes, this discussion might seem biased against Britain. But let’s face it, a nation that once ruled the world for spices and later grew fond of mayonnaise certainly has a lot to answer for!

The central concept behind Relooted is the notion that items should be returned, and surprisingly, this idea was sparked during a trip to the British Museum. During this visit, my mother became enraged upon seeing a large section of a temple from southern Turkey displayed there. She found it appalling, and her outburst led me to consider creating a game. I initially questioned the mechanics involved in lifting a building out of a museum, but since then, I’ve been brainstorming ways to develop a heist game.

Following that, he shared with me that the idea of creating a game about retrieving African artifacts felt quite organic. In “Relooted”, you’ll assume leadership of a band of noble thieves who focus on returning stolen artifacts to their original countries. Not unlike many who find themselves operating outside the law, your team begins this endeavor only when the established legal system for returning these items proves ineffective. In reality, numerous nations petition for the return of their artifacts, but it doesn’t always materialize. For example, Ethiopia has been advocating for the repatriation of Prince Alemayehu, who passed away in Britain over a century and a half ago (you get the picture? It often involves the British), for many decades. To this day, that return has yet to occur.

In the imaginative realm of Relooted, advancements have indeed occurred. By the close of the 21st century, those in power negotiated the Transatlantic Returns Treaty, which pledged to return African artifacts from museums back to their original lands. However, there’s a loophole, as is often the case. The museums involved simply removed these artifacts from public view and secured them in vaults, keeping them away from the public. While they aren’t technically breaking the treaty, it’s a underhanded maneuver that your team finds unacceptable.

One fascinating aspect of Relooted is that your team primarily consists of ordinary individuals from various African nations, each maintaining their day jobs. However, they possess a unique skillset that makes them a formidable challenge for those who illegally acquire items or resources. Your character, Nomali (that’s you), serves as the semi-resistant team leader. Trevor, affectionately known as Trev, is your little brother with a knack for unlocking doors. Professor Grace specializes in the study of artifacts and treaties alike. Ndedi, our acrobat, uses her hookshot abilities to help you escape from tricky situations. Fred pilots the drone that allows you to survey areas before embarking on your missions. Together, you’ve got the resources and the expertise at your disposal.

In my demonstration, I placed you in a mission where you needed to infiltrate the “House of Horrors,” a location housing a collection that arguably should not be private. Our main objective is to retrieve Prince Alemayehu’s remains, but there are additional objectives as well. Before the mission commenced, we were provided with such extensive background on each artifact we aimed to recover that I questioned Myres about the authenticity of these historical pieces and the amount of research invested in ensuring accuracy.

For approximately two years, we employed one or two researchers on a full-time basis. The primary challenge we faced was not discovering new artifacts, but rather selecting the most significant ones, as there is an abundant number of African artifacts that have been removed from Africa over time. Much of our research focused on uncovering artifacts with profound cultural or spiritual significance to the communities they were taken from.

Additionally, we had a full-time 3D artist whose sole responsibility was examining photographs. Unfortunately, some of these artifacts don’t have high-quality images, as they have been in storage for hundreds of years. Our artists therefore had to imagine what these artifacts might look like…

Furthermore, we employed a woman who created our pronunciation guide. This was essential to ensure that the pronunciation of the artifacts and ethnicities was accurate and correct.

In essence, the project required an extensive amount of research.

After the project concludes, I transition into executing the operation, which is similar to a daring heist in movies. Unlike typical heists where plans are made off-site, here, we devise our strategies on location by using a drone for surveillance. Once all preparations are set, it’s time for me (and my team) to move in and put the plan into action.

As a passionate gamer, I find levels in this game to be an intricate web of connected rooms, each one brimming with challenges tailored to keep me on my toes. Be it shutters poised to slam shut or doors that lock once you snatch an artifact from its stand, these obstacles demand careful preparation. For instance, if I notice a shutter about to close in on me, I’d wisely position a movable table beneath it as a barrier. If a door seems destined to lock behind me, having Trev positioned there to open it becomes crucial. And when the need arises to move between levels quickly, Ndedi is my go-to for swift transportation.

While I’m setting up my strategy, I’m also mapping out the optimal route and deciding on the artifact that would serve as the best starting point. It requires strategic thinking, but the thrill of the challenge never fades.

After everything was prepared, I picked up the initial artifact, triggering an alarm. I needed to collect all the remaining items and rush to our vehicle promptly before time ran out. I made a couple of errors that allowed me to secure just one of the additional artifacts I aimed for, but I did manage to make it to the vehicle in the nick of time. Reloot’s escapes – with their smooth, thrilling parkour and the adrenaline rush they bring – are what you get when you pull off a well-executed heist, and I had an amazing time playing against the clock and watching my plan unfold with both successes and setbacks.

Despite appearing as an action-packed game in trailers, Myres shared with me that this might be slightly misleading. After experiencing the escape segment, I concur. The smoothness and fluidity of the gameplay are more of a reward than a challenge. Instead, the real challenge lies in refining your strategy and route choices within the level to experience that seamless flow. This subtle aspect introduces a tactical element to the gameplay, which may not be immediately apparent from just watching the continuous running scenes. Essentially, it’s a unique blend of action and puzzle, where the puzzle is essentially planning, and the action is carrying out that plan.

I’ve never experienced a game quite like Relooted before, but that doesn’t mean it was disappointing. In fact, it was one of my favorites from Summer Game Fest, and I’m eagerly anticipating spending more time with Nomali and her companions. Who knows? Perhaps we’ll even manage to infiltrate the British Museum, just as the inspiration for this whole adventure suggests.

This preview was based on a demo provided by the developer at Summer Game Fest.

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2025-06-24 16:28