Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa
New Zealand’s national museum reflects the country’s identity, history, and culture.
It’s more than just the sound of ‘pew pew pew’ that you’ll hear from the national museum on the waterfront. Te Papa hosts ‘Game Worlds: Whakaaturanga Pureiapo | Playable Exhibition’ over summer. The exhibition brings together over 30 of the world’s most influential videogames from the 1970s to today. It invites you to step into extraordinary virtual worlds and discover how videogames are made and how they’ve shaped the way we play and connect.
For Courtney Johnston, Te Papa Tumu Whakarae, the magic of the exhibition lies in its invitation to play. “It transforms visitors from spectators into players. You don’t just walk through this exhibition; you play your way through it.” Curated and developed by ACMI you’ll find international video game hits like Minecraft, Final Fantasy XIV Online, World of Warcraft, The Sims, Neopets, SimCity, and Stardew Valley. Visitors can also experience Kiwi storytelling with an exclusive demo of Guardian Maia by Māori-led studio Metia Interactive.
Journey behind the scenes with 44 playable experiences, original builds, rare design materials, and hands-on prototypes you won’t find anywhere else — you’ll play in ways you can’t at home and discover how developers, players, and technology bring these digital worlds to life. If you want to keep playing, there is a late-night party, talks, and events that bring the worlds of video games to life.
Whether you’re a curious newcomer or a seasoned player trying to beat a friend’s high score, Game Worlds promises to be a joyful way to connect over Wellington’s summer.
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