Yorkshire Games Festival takes over the museum for a weekend of gameplay, free activities and live shows for the whole family to enjoy together.
Experience games on our biggest screens, play the latest board games and analogue experiences with friends, and beta-test new projects from Northern developers—all under one roof.
Visiting us
Most Let’s Play! activities are free for anyone to drop in, but you will need to book a free admission ticket to enter the museum. You might also find our health and safety information helpful.
Free drop-in activities
All free drop-in activities are available 10.00–16.30 on 4–5 February 2023 except XR Stories Immersive Demos, which are on Saturday 4 February only.
Northern Games Showcase
WHERE: Gallery 1, Level 1
An exciting chance to test out a variety of games—all created by local developers—before they’re released to the public.
More information for Northern Games Showcase.
Become a young game designer with BAFTA
WHERE: Cubby Broccoli Cinema, Level 1
Learn about how BAFTA Young Games Designers supports young people to create, develop and present their new game idea to the world—and how you can get involved and start making games.
More information for BAFTA Young Game Designers session.
EXPLORING ANALOGUE
WHERE: Kodak Gallery, Level -1
Swap pixels for pencils and join board gaming fanatics Cards or Die and Dungeons & Flagons and indulge in the wonderful world of analogue gaming.
Cards or Die
Cards or Die board gaming are passionate about bringing people together with board games. They have a massive selection of retro favourites and modern classics from Guess Who and Cluedo to Azul and Kingdomino; there are games for every interest, age and ability. You can stop by for as long as you like.
Dungeons & Flagons
Don’t know your half-elves from your halflings? Your barbarians from your bards? Learn a bit about roleplaying games, play a variety of board games, card games and explore all things analogue with the team from Dungeons & Flagons.
GAMING THE MIND
WHERE: Wonderlab Studio, Level 3
Gaming the Mind is a registered charity founded and run by UK-based mental health professionals who are huge video game fans. Their aim is to promote positive mental health within the gaming community and the games industry. By focusing on the intersection between gaming and mental health, they want to raise awareness of mental health challenges and reduce the stigma surrounding these issues.
We understand that festivals can get hectic and overwhelming at times, and it can be beneficial to take some time to relax in a peaceful environment. Gaming the Mind will be running their quiet space at the Yorkshire Games Festival where attendees can come and chill out in a calm, relaxing atmosphere and get tips on mental health and gaming.
Find out more about the work Gaming the Mind do on their website.
Big Screen Gaming
WHERE: Pictureville Cinema, Level 0
Enjoy a game from our specially selected list of titles and experience gaming on the big screen. You’ll be able to choose from a range of exciting, weird and wonderful multiplayer games including Boomerang Fu, Stick Fight, Drink More Glurp, Unspottable, Rubber Bandits and Nippon Marathon.
On our massive Pictureville Cinema screen, couch co-op never looked so good!
Flashback Arcade
WHERE: Level 3 landing
Play arcade classics alongside modern titles in this retro pop-up arcade from Bradford's own Flashback Arcade, they’re bringing us a small sample of their extensive collection for you to try out for free.
XR Stories immersive demos
WHERE: Level 1 landing
WHEN: Saturday 4 February, 10.00–16.30
Have a go on a VR headset or tablet and check out some of the latest Yorkshire-produced immersive gaming experiences that have been supported by XR Stories.
These projects have been developed using the latest virtual reality (VR), augmented reality (AR) and artificial intelligence (AI) technologies. Try our prototypes and think about the potential of gaming in immersive and interactive digital technologies.
Open Brush VR
WHERE: Museum foyer, Level 0
Experience the free Virtual Reality app that allows the user to experience painting in 3D space. Unleash your creativity with three-dimensional brush strokes, choosing from a wide palette, of brushes, including stars, light, and even fire. The museum is your canvas. Your palette is your imagination. The possibilities are endless!
The app is the evolution of the ground-breaking Tilt Brush, developed by Google. After Google ended development in 2021, they released the source code, and the Icosa Foundation - a team of volunteers based mainly in Leeds and Manchester - has picked up the reigns of this amazing app, adding improvements and updates completely for free.
Learn more about Open Brush and the ICOSA Foundation.
National Videogame Museum workshop
WHERE: Makespace, Level 4
WHEN: 10.00–12.00 and 14.00–16.30
Kickstart your games skills with a workshop from the National Videogame Museum exploring graphic design in videogames. This drop-in workshop has been specially designed for the National Science and Media Museum to unlock skills in geometry, perspective and problem-solving.
Videogame object handling
WHERE: Level 5 landing
Join our expert curators and get hands on with a selection of objects from the history of gaming.
Build a PC with Pudsey Computers
WHERE: Games Lounge, Level 5
Join local tech guru’s Pudsey Computers as they showcase the latest in gaming tech and take part in sessions where you can learn how to build your own PC!
Discover Esports! with Burnley College
WHERE: Gallery One, Level 1
Have a chat with Burnley College to learn about the competitive world of esports – professional competitive gaming! Find out what they do, and the transferable skills developed through esports.
Want to know if you can beat a professional esports player at their own game? Come on down to test your skills if you can handle the challenge!
Making a Level with Impact Gamers
WHERE: Pictureville Bar, Level 0
Join Impact Gamers and produce a level for a game using bespoke level-creating software. The level you create also has the possibility of being added to the full game.
You will also be able to play test levels of the game and rate your experience.
Games Lounge
WHEN: 10.00–17.00 daily
WHERE: Level 5
Learn about the history of videogaming as you play your way through classic games, from Pac-Man to Super Mario Kart. Games Lounge tickets are £2 per person and can be purchased when you book free museum admission.
More information for Games Lounge
Kids’ Club film screenings
Film TBC
WHEN: 10.30, 4–5 February 2023
WHERE: Cubby Broccoli Cinema, Level 1
Let's Play Sensory Maps
Download a sensory map which gives visitors more information on the sensory environment of Yorkshire Games Festival activities and spaces across the museum.
