The fourth and final edition of the EPIC-WE Cultural Game Jam at the Óbidos Hub took place under the theme “Heritage Remixed – Rediscover the Past, Reimagine the Future”, offering young participants an opportunity to creatively engage with the local heritage of Óbidos through the development of digital games.
Organized by the project’s Portuguese partners, the event brought together 25 students from Lusófona University and 17 students from Josefa de Óbidos School at the Praça da Criatividade. Over the course of a week, participants took part in workshops, team-building exercises, and collaborative game design sessions. Their objective was to create digital games that integrated European values, while drawing inspiration from Óbidos’ medieval history, traditions, and folklore.
The outcome of this intensive creative process was the development of nine original games, reflecting a range of genres and themes—from survival horror games inspired by the legend of the Musaranhos, to fictionalized retellings of the conquest of Óbidos. The final day featured a public showcase, during which participants presented their work to an engaged audience.
The closing session included speeches by Conceição Costa, coordinator of the Óbidos Hub and researcher at CICANT, José Santos, principal of Josefa de Óbidos School, and Filipe Daniel, Mayor of Óbidos. All highlighted the importance of youth participation, cultural innovation, and interdisciplinary collaboration.
This event marks the conclusion of the series of Cultural Game Jams promoted by the Óbidos Hub as part of the EPIC-WE project, underscoring the potential of game-based learning and co-creation in fostering civic engagement and cultural awareness among younger generations.