For our nature appreciation issue back in February, we recommended Henry David Thoreau’s Walden as our classic reconsidered. So in true digital humanities style, we’re returning to that classic—but in a new way.
Created by the University of Southern California’s Game Innovation Lab, Walden, a Game is a recreation of Thoreau’s book as a video game. As the developers explain, the game follows in Thoreau’s footsteps, less of an “adventure of the body pitted against nature, but [more] of the mind and soul living in nature over the course of a New England year.”
Players explore a digital version of Walden pond, find fuel and food, and generally just survive in a cabin. Thoreau’s work covered those topics as an experiment in “living deliberately” and finding unnoticed joys in life. The game aims to give a more interactive way of exploring the same themes.
Do you have a review of the game, or another book you want to recommend to other TIPsters? Let us know in the comments or by submitting a review. We’re also interested in what other literary classics you think would make a good video game!
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