Scotland’s extremely successful video gaming industry is celebrated in a new exhibition at the National Museum of Scotland:  Game On

The exhibition is the world’s largest interactive exhibition of the culture and history of video games, with 120 playable games spanning more than 50 years.  

Game On will run at the National Museum of Scotland from 29 June to 3 November 2024. It will feature iconic characters from Space Invaders to Mario and highlight Scotland’s role as a pioneer and world leader in game development.   

The exhibition will reveal the roots and development of Scottish gaming. From manufacturing the  ZX Spectrum computer in Dundee in the 1980s to highlighting Scotland as home to some of the most innovative and influential game makers, including Rockstar North, creators of Grand Theft Auto. 

Game On will showcase emerging Scottish talent such as Sad Owl Studios, whose game Viewfinder was awarded Best British Game at the Bafta Game Awards 2024. Visitors will also discover the important role Edinburgh studio 4J played in making Minecraft a global phenomenon.   

Patrick Moran, Game On Associate Curator, said: 

“The gaming world has had an undeniable social, cultural, and technological impact. Games transcend the boundaries between art and technology, becoming part of popular culture. 

“Game On presents the opportunity to not only see the evolution of video games and how they have changed over time but also to immerse yourself inside gaming worlds with over 100 playable games. The show features the largest playable collection in the world, including original arcades, hand-held consoles, and key games, including Pac-Man, Super Mario, Tetris, Sonic the Computer Space, Just Dance and FIFA.

“The exhibition also explores new advances in the gaming world. Highly interactive, ground-breaking and popular, Game On is engaging for hardcore gamers and visitors new to gaming. Crucially, the show is suitable for players of all ages.” 

Game On is curated and toured by Barbican Immersive. The exhibition examines the creative and technological advances that have established gaming as a new art form. 

The National Museum of Scotland was the exhibition’s very first touring venue in 2002, and Game On has since been visited by over 5 million people of all ages in 25 cities around the world. Game On returns to Scotland in a landmark year for gaming that includes significant anniversaries such as 30 years since the release of the first PlayStation console and 40 years of the iconic puzzle game Tetris. 

Dr Geoff Belknap, Keeper of Science and Technology at National Museums Scotland, said: 

“It’s great to welcome Game On back to the National Museum of Scotland. As someone in charge of Scotland’s national science and technology collections, it’s exciting to explore the country’s incredible contribution to gaming, past and present.

“I’m delighted to bring Scottish independent games to a new audience, including The Longest Walk, a pioneering project exploring the experience of living with mental health issues and Highland Song, a beautiful adventure through the Scottish landscape.

“The exhibition has been continually updated at each new touring venue since the early 2000s and so we look forward to bringing the story of video gaming right up to date here in Scotland, where the industry today is so vibrant.” 

The exhibition is organised in thematic sections, exploring hardware formats such as handheld to home consoles to arcade machines, as well as wider cultural aspects such as the links between music, film and gaming.  

A programme of public events will support the exhibition, including a Museum Late and family-focused activities to inspire the next generation of game creators.  

Tickets for Game On are available to book at nms.ac.uk/GameOn 

National Museums Scotland Members free. 

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