Call for Papers: ‘Analogue Games and the Ancient & Pre-Modern Past’
University of Durham
Friday 1 May 2026
Organisers: Dr. Helen Roche (Durham University, UK) and Dr. Hamish Cameron (Victoria University of Wellington, NZ)
Recently, analogue games have been gaining increasing attention within the context of Game Studies, Ludonarratology, Historical Game Studies and Classical Game Studies. This interdisciplinary workshop will focus on modern analogue games which engage with ancient and pre-modern pasts, with an eye to producing an edited volume which will complement existing work already in progress.
The organisers are currently seeking abstracts, and welcome suggestions for 20-minute papers which engage with:
• a broad range of historical periods (including games with historical elements which are not purely historical, e.g. historically-inspired fantasy and science fiction; mythical games); archaeogaming;
• any analogue game genres – including, but not limited to, board games and card games, Tabletop Roleplaying Games (TTRPGs), live action games, tabletop wargames, miniature wargaming, and megagames;
• analogue games which range beyond the popular (e.g. analyses of indie games as well as well-known classics);
• analogue games as vectors for historical pedagogy, engagement and outreach; serious games; creative ludic research methods;
• intersectional and postcolonial perspectives are especially welcome.
Our primary goal is for the workshop to take place in person (though please note that we cannot guarantee funding to cover speakers’ expenses, and any funding we can find will be used to facilitate attendance by ECRs and precarious speakers). However, given sufficient interest, we would consider organising a separate online workshop at a later date to accommodate those who are unable to travel to Durham in person.
Please send abstracts of no more than 300 words to gaming.history.ias@gmail.com by 31 MARCH 2026.