Lunacy Studios has released The House of Hikmah, a new puzzle-platformer on Steam that explores the history of the Islamic Golden Age.
The game follows Maya, a young girl navigating grief following the death of her father, as she enters a fantastical version of Baghdad's historic House of Wisdom.
Players use a device called the 'Key' to transmute the material properties of objects, solving puzzles themed around the scientific contributions of historical scholars.
A celebration of historical science
The narrative features real historical figures such as Ismail al-Junaidi and Fatima al-Fihriya, guiding the player through realms themed after their specific fields of study.
According to a review by Polygon, the game uses these figures to tie personal loss into a broader cultural context, presenting a celebratory view of scientific progress.
Gameplay mechanics involve changing the physical properties of items, such as turning transparent shards into metal to manipulate light beams or using magnetism to interact with gears.
The production features a score by Austin Wintory, known for his work on Sword of the Sea, designed to evoke an authentic Middle Eastern atmosphere.
The title includes full voice acting and is playable in Arabic, reinforcing its focus on cultural authenticity.
While the game features a relatively short three-hour runtime, it utilizes physics-based puzzles to explore themes of transformation and memory.
