Atuel: The Argentine documentary video game that unites nature, art, and environmental awareness on Android and PC

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atuel It's much more than a simple video game: it's a unique interactive proposal that fuses art, ecology, and documentary narrative to immerse the player in the landscapes, history, and environmental issues of the emblematic Atuel River, located south of the province of Mendoza and reaching as far as La Pampa, Argentina. The title has been developed by the cooperative Killgames in collaboration with the documentary team The 12.01 Project, con el objetivo de build ecological and social awareness through audiovisual experimentation and dialogue between video games and the documentary genre.

The peculiarity of atuel lies in its surreal and meditative approachIts aesthetics are based on three-dimensional landscapes inspired by the actual topography of the Atuel River Valley, using saturated colors, strong contrasts, and an ambient soundtrack to generate a dreamlike atmosphere. The game combines these evocative images with first-person narratives, which arise from real interviews with residents, scientists and representatives of indigenous peoples in the area.

The experience unfolds as a journey along the river, in which players take on varying roles: First you are the river itself, later different animals and elements of the local ecosystem, to observe the environment from perspectives never before possible. Each transformation is accompanied by stories, natural sounds, and original music by Makunouchi Bento, which reinforces the sensory and emotional connection with the territory and its history.

The project emerges from the convergence of in-depth documentary research and the desire to create an impact through video games beyond entertainment, leading to reflection on the relationship between humankind and nature. According to its creators, their intention is not simply to report on global warming or the water crisis; They seek to generate an emotional and empathetic bond that helps us understand why ecosystems are at risk and how local communities experience this threat.

El name Atuel It comes from the Puelche language and means "soul of the earth", reflecting the importance and profound significance the river holds for Indigenous peoples and all its inhabitants. For them, the river is not just a stream of water, but a symbol of identity, life, and community.

Atuel's unique features: an immersive and educational experience

• Meditative Exploration: The game invites contemplation, moving away from traditional challenge or competition mechanics and proposing a quiet exploration, in which the player can take the time to admire details, landscapes, and sounds.
• Transformation and multiple perspectives: One of Atuel's biggest gameplay innovations is the ability to turn into different animals of the ecosystem or even in the flow of water itself, thus experiencing the environment with new perceptual capabilities.
• Choral narrative and real interviews: The story is structured around stories and testimonies from scientists, local residents, artists, and members of indigenous communities, weaving together scientific, historical, and personal perspectives. The player hears voices narrating the river's importance from different perspectives, enriching the experience and giving it a unique depth.
• Atmospheric soundtrack: Ambient music, composed specifically for the game, accompanies the journey throughout and helps immerse you in the sound of the river and its surroundings.
• Adjusted duration: Atuel offers an intense but brief experience, lasting between 15 and 30 minutes, designed to be experienced in one sitting, as if it were a short documentary or an art installation.
• Multilingual availability: The game is available in several languages, especially Spanish and English, making it easy for an international audience interested in Latin American culture and issues.

An internationally award-winning documentary video game

Since its launch, Atuel has garnered notable recognition Both in Argentina and around the world, it has positioned itself as a benchmark in the genre of documentary video games and interactive experiences with social impact. Its most notable achievements include:

• Award for the «Innovation in Experience Designon Indiecade, one of the most prestigious festivals for independent development.
• Award to "Best Original Game" in the Argentina Video Game Expo (EVA), where he was widely appreciated for his artistic proposal and his ability to reach non-traditional gaming audiences.
• Official selection and exhibition at world-class festivals and museums, such as the Cannes Film Festival, Smithsonian American Art Museum in Washington DC, A MAZE. / Berlin, PLAY Creative Gaming Festival in Hamburg and the exhibition OASIS: The Videogames Exhibition in Madrid, among many others.

These international recognitions have contributed to Atuel transcend borders and be valued not only as a video game, but as a artistic, educational and environmental activism project that explores new forms of communication and collective reflection.

The creative process: from documentary research to digital art

The gestation of Atuel is the result of the interdisciplinary collaboration between programmers, artists, documentary filmmakers, and musicians. It all began when The 12.01 Project, a team of documentary filmmakers, conducted an exhaustive investigation in the Atuel River area, collecting interviews, film footage, and stories of all kinds. During this process, they set out to transform this wealth of information and testimonies into a game that would represent the complexity of the ecosystem and local culture without falling into mere didacticism.

The Matajuegos team, known for its history of political and social experimentation within independent gaming, joined not only as a technical developer, but also as a conceptual and artistic co-author. Together, both groups worked with creative freedom and mutual respect, successfully assembling Real interviews, field recordings, aerial images and ethnographic research in a poetic, emotional and open-to-interpretation interactive narrative.

Digital art, led by Santiago Franzani, is based on photographic and cartographic references from the Atuel River's area of ​​influence, but always opting for its own visual language, where realism merges with surrealism to invite a more subjective and emotional perception of the river and its surroundings.

In the music and sound editing, the participation of Makunouchi Bento, a band recognized for its ability to create experimental atmospheres, which here adds soundscapes based on field recordings, sounds of wildlife and water, and original compositions that accompany each segment of the journey.

What Atuel is about: mechanics, narrative, and gameplay

Atuel's proposal departs from traditional video game schemes. There are no enemies, strict missions, or skill challenges. Rather, it is a experience of sensory and narrative exploration, where the player is the protagonist of a transformative journey along the Atuel River and its various symbolic worlds.

During the adventure, the player will go taking different formsFrom being a drop of water or a river current, to endemic animals like birds and fish, to becoming ecosystem elements like stones or plants. Each transformation enables new ways of moving and discovering hidden fragments of history, unique perspectives, and layers of meaning that enrich the experience.

The advance along the riverbed is accompanied by off-screen testimonies, which arise from real interviews with biologists, geologists, artisans, residents, indigenous people and activists from the region. These stories address both scientific aspects (biodiversity, geography, water problems) as well as cultural, historical and spiritual, inviting a deep reflection on the interdependence between humanity and nature.

In parallel, the narrative provides information on the importance of wetlands, river dynamics, the history of water management, the challenges of drought, and the ecological crisis, but always from a sensitive and engaging perspective, prioritizing emotional connection and openness to dialogue over the imposition of a single message.

The gameplay is extremely accessible: no traditional gaming skills are required, and it is designed so that anyone, even those who don't usually play video games, can enjoy, understand, and get involved in the experience. This allows Atuel to also have an enormous educational potential, both in formal and informal settings, and that can be used to raise awareness about contemporary environmental issues.

Relevance and educational potential of Atuel

Atuel has been highlighted, not only for his originality and artistic quality, but for his potential as innovative educational toolThe opportunity to experience the river from within, putting oneself in the shoes of organisms and elements of the environment, allows environmental issues to be approached empathetically, facilitating discussion, interpretation, and dialogue in the classroom, museums, cultural centers, and social groups.

Unlike other products known as "serious games" or traditional "educational games," Atuel doesn't aim to impose a moral or turn learning into a chore. The goal is for each player to interpret the interactive text in their own way, question, reflect, and share that learning in an enriching exchange, as they would with a novel or an art-house film.

Several experts in pedagogy and digital culture have pointed out that the format It allows us to address curricular contents of social sciences, natural sciences, art and ethics from a comprehensive and critical perspective, promoting skills such as observation, empathy, ecological thinking, and historical awareness.

The Matajuegos team itself emphasizes that the game's target audience goes beyond the typical video game audience; it is especially aimed at people who don't consider themselves gamers and who may find this offering a gateway to interactive digital culture.

Reviews and opinions about Atuel

Professional and public reception has been overwhelmingly positive. Various media outlets, both video game and cultural, have highlighted the Atuel's ability to create immersive and transformative experiences allied with art and ecology. Here are some of the most relevant opinions:

• Robert Yang: “Atuel is a documentary about the climate crisis in the form of an exploration video game where you play as the river. A lofty idea masterfully executed.”
• Andrew Plotkin: “It's not a single voice, but a collection of stories that describe the Atuel River in Argentina. You guide a drop of water, a bird, or a fish, while scientists and locals share their perspectives. It's a small project, but evocatively and beautifully presented.”
• James Coltrain: “It combines geography, science, history, and beautiful graphics into a sublime experience.”

The general public also highlights the value of immersing themselves in a different approach, one that invites introspection and offers a fresh perspective on how video games can contribute to the social and ecological debate.

Awards and festivals: consolidating their cultural and artistic value

• Indiecade (Anywhere & Everywhere): Award for innovation in design and narrative.
• Argentina Video Game Expo (EVA): Recognition for the best original game.
• A MAZE. / Berlin: Official selection, recognition for artistic experimentation.
• PLAY Creative Gaming Festival (Hamburg): Exhibition as an outstanding interactive proposal.
• Cannes Film Festival: Special invitation to the new narratives sector.
• Smithsonian American Art Museum (Washington DC): Integration as part of the collection of new digital narratives.
• OASIS: The Videogames Exhibition (Madrid): Outstanding proposal among contemporary interactive documentaries.
• Festivals and exhibitions in Mexico, Canada, the Netherlands, and Colombia, among others.

These recognitions place Atuel as one of the world's leading figures in the dialogue between games, art and environmental awareness.

The creative process: from documentary research to digital art

The gestation of Atuel is the result of the interdisciplinary collaboration between programmers, artists, documentary filmmakers, and musicians. It all began when The 12.01 Project, a team of documentary filmmakers, conducted an exhaustive investigation in the Atuel River area, collecting interviews, film footage, and stories of all kinds. During this process, they set out to transform this wealth of information and testimonies into a game that would represent the complexity of the ecosystem and local culture without falling into mere didacticism.

The Matajuegos team, known for its history of political and social experimentation within independent gaming, joined not only as a technical developer, but also as a conceptual and artistic co-author. Together, both groups worked with creative freedom and mutual respect, successfully assembling Real interviews, field recordings, aerial images and ethnographic research in a poetic, emotional and open-to-interpretation interactive narrative.

Digital art, led by Santiago Franzani, is based on photographic and cartographic references from the Atuel River's area of ​​influence, but always opting for its own visual language, where realism merges with surrealism to invite a more subjective and emotional perception of the river and its surroundings.

In the music and sound editing, the participation of Makunouchi Bento, a band recognized for its ability to create experimental atmospheres, which here adds soundscapes based on field recordings, sounds of wildlife and water, and original compositions that accompany each segment of the journey.

What Atuel is about: mechanics, narrative, and gameplay

Atuel's proposal departs from traditional video game schemes. There are no enemies, strict missions, or skill challenges. Rather, it is a experience of sensory and narrative exploration, where the player is the protagonist of a transformative journey along the Atuel River and its various symbolic worlds.

During the adventure, the player will go taking different formsFrom being a drop of water or a river current, to endemic animals like birds and fish, to becoming ecosystem elements like stones or plants. Each transformation enables new ways of moving and discovering hidden fragments of history, unique perspectives, and layers of meaning that enrich the experience.

The advance along the riverbed is accompanied by off-screen testimonies, which arise from real interviews with biologists, geologists, artisans, residents, indigenous people and activists from the region. These stories address both scientific aspects (biodiversity, geography, water problems) as well as cultural, historical and spiritual, inviting a deep reflection on the interdependence between humanity and nature.

In parallel, the narrative provides information on the importance of wetlands, river dynamics, the history of water management, the challenges of drought, and the ecological crisis, but always from a sensitive and engaging perspective, prioritizing emotional connection and openness to dialogue over the imposition of a single message.

The gameplay is extremely accessible: no traditional gaming skills are required, and it is designed so that anyone, even those who don't usually play video games, can enjoy, understand, and get involved in the experience. This allows Atuel to also have an enormous educational potential, both in formal and informal settings, and that can be used to raise awareness about contemporary environmental issues.

Relevance and educational potential of Atuel

Atuel has been highlighted, not only for his originality and artistic quality, but for his potential as innovative educational toolThe opportunity to experience the river from within, putting oneself in the shoes of organisms and elements of the environment, allows environmental issues to be approached empathetically, facilitating discussion, interpretation, and dialogue in the classroom, museums, cultural centers, and social groups.

Unlike other products known as "serious games" or traditional "educational games," Atuel doesn't aim to impose a moral or turn learning into a chore. The goal is for each player to interpret the interactive text in their own way, question, reflect, and share that learning in an enriching exchange, as they would with a novel or an art-house film.

Several experts in pedagogy and digital culture have pointed out that the format It allows us to address curricular contents of social sciences, natural sciences, art and ethics from a comprehensive and critical perspective, promoting skills such as observation, empathy, ecological thinking, and historical awareness.

The Matajuegos team itself emphasizes that the game's target audience goes beyond the typical video game audience; it is especially aimed at people who don't consider themselves gamers and who may find this offering a gateway to interactive digital culture.

Reviews and opinions about Atuel

Professional and public reception has been overwhelmingly positive. Various media outlets, both video game and cultural, have highlighted the Atuel's ability to create immersive and transformative experiences allied with art and ecology. Here are some of the most relevant opinions:

• Robert Yang: “Atuel is a documentary about the climate crisis in the form of an exploration video game where you play as the river. A lofty idea masterfully executed.”
• Andrew Plotkin: “It's not a single voice, but a collection of stories that describe the Atuel River in Argentina. You guide a drop of water, a bird, or a fish, while scientists and locals share their perspectives. It's a small project, but evocatively and beautifully presented.”
• James Coltrain: “It combines geography, science, history, and beautiful graphics into a sublime experience.”

The general public also highlights the value of immersing themselves in a different approach, one that invites introspection and offers a fresh perspective on how video games can contribute to the social and ecological debate.

Awards and festivals: consolidating their cultural and artistic value

• Indiecade (Anywhere & Everywhere): Award for innovation in design and narrative.
• Argentina Video Game Expo (EVA): Recognition for the best original game.
• A MAZE. / Berlin: Official selection, recognition for artistic experimentation.
• PLAY Creative Gaming Festival (Hamburg): Exhibition as an outstanding interactive proposal.
• Cannes Film Festival: Special invitation to the new narratives sector.
• Smithsonian American Art Museum (Washington DC): Integration as part of the collection of new digital narratives.
• OASIS: The Videogames Exhibition (Madrid): Outstanding proposal among contemporary interactive documentaries.
• Festivals and exhibitions in Mexico, Canada, the Netherlands, and Colombia, among others.

These recognitions place Atuel as one of the world's leading figures in the dialogue between games, art and environmental awareness.

The creative process: from documentary research to digital art

The gestation of Atuel is the result of the interdisciplinary collaboration between programmers, artists, documentary filmmakers, and musicians. It all began when The 12.01 Project, a team of documentary filmmakers, conducted an exhaustive investigation in the Atuel River area, collecting interviews, film footage, and stories of all kinds. During this process, they set out to transform this wealth of information and testimonies into a game that would represent the complexity of the ecosystem and local culture without falling into mere didacticism.

The Matajuegos team, known for its history of political and social experimentation within independent gaming, joined not only as a technical developer, but also as a conceptual and artistic co-author. Together, both groups worked with creative freedom and mutual respect, successfully assembling Real interviews, field recordings, aerial images and ethnographic research in a poetic, emotional and open-to-interpretation interactive narrative.

Digital art, led by Santiago Franzani, is based on photographic and cartographic references from the Atuel River's area of ​​influence, but always opting for its own visual language, where realism merges with surrealism to invite a more subjective and emotional perception of the river and its surroundings.

In the music and sound editing, the participation of Makunouchi Bento, a band recognized for its ability to create experimental atmospheres, which here adds soundscapes based on field recordings, sounds of wildlife and water, and original compositions that accompany each segment of the journey.

What Atuel is about: mechanics, narrative, and gameplay

Atuel's proposal departs from traditional video game schemes. There are no enemies, strict missions, or skill challenges. Rather, it is a experience of sensory and narrative exploration, where the player is the protagonist of a transformative journey along the Atuel River and its various symbolic worlds.

During the adventure, the player will go taking different formsFrom being a drop of water or a river current, to endemic animals like birds and fish, to becoming ecosystem elements like stones or plants. Each transformation enables new ways of moving and discovering hidden fragments of history, unique perspectives, and layers of meaning that enrich the experience.

The advance along the riverbed is accompanied by off-screen testimonies, which arise from real interviews with biologists, geologists, artisans, residents, indigenous people and activists from the region. These stories address both scientific aspects (biodiversity, geography, water problems) as well as cultural, historical and spiritual, inviting a deep reflection on the interdependence between humanity and nature.

In parallel, the narrative provides information on the importance of wetlands, river dynamics, the history of water management, the challenges of drought, and the ecological crisis, but always from a sensitive and engaging perspective, prioritizing emotional connection and openness to dialogue over the imposition of a single message.

The gameplay is extremely accessible: no traditional gaming skills are required, and it is designed so that anyone, even those who don't usually play video games, can enjoy, understand, and get involved in the experience. This allows Atuel to also have an enormous educational potential, both in formal and informal settings, and that can be used to raise awareness about contemporary environmental issues.

Relevance and educational potential of Atuel

Atuel has been highlighted, not only for his originality and artistic quality, but for his potential as innovative educational toolThe opportunity to experience the river from within, putting oneself in the shoes of organisms and elements of the environment, allows environmental issues to be approached empathetically, facilitating discussion, interpretation, and dialogue in the classroom, museums, cultural centers, and social groups.

Unlike other products known as "serious games" or traditional "educational games," Atuel doesn't aim to impose a moral or turn learning into a chore. The goal is for each player to interpret the interactive text in their own way, question, reflect, and share that learning in an enriching exchange, as they would with a novel or an art-house film.

Several experts in pedagogy and digital culture have pointed out that the format It allows us to address curricular contents of social sciences, natural sciences, art and ethics from a comprehensive and critical perspective, promoting skills such as observation, empathy, ecological thinking, and historical awareness.

The Matajuegos team itself emphasizes that the game's target audience goes beyond the typical video game audience; it is especially aimed at people who don't consider themselves gamers and who may find this offering a gateway to interactive digital culture.

Reviews and opinions about Atuel

Professional and public reception has been overwhelmingly positive. Various media outlets, both video game and cultural, have highlighted the Atuel's ability to create immersive and transformative experiences allied with art and ecology. Here are some of the most relevant opinions:

• Robert Yang: “Atuel is a documentary about the climate crisis in the form of an exploration video game where you play as the river. A lofty idea masterfully executed.”
• Andrew Plotkin: “It's not a single voice, but a collection of stories that describe the Atuel River in Argentina. You guide a drop of water, a bird, or a fish, while scientists and locals share their perspectives. It's a small project, but evocatively and beautifully presented.”
• James Coltrain: “It combines geography, science, history, and beautiful graphics into a sublime experience.”

The general public also highlights the value of immersing themselves in a different approach, one that invites introspection and offers a fresh perspective on how video games can contribute to the social and ecological debate.

Awards and festivals: consolidating their cultural and artistic value

• Indiecade (Anywhere & Everywhere): Award for innovation in design and narrative.
• Argentina Video Game Expo (EVA): Recognition for the best original game.
• A MAZE. / Berlin: Official selection, recognition for artistic experimentation.
• PLAY Creative Gaming Festival (Hamburg): Exhibition as an outstanding interactive proposal.
• Cannes Film Festival: Special invitation to the new narratives sector.
• Smithsonian American Art Museum (Washington DC): Integration as part of the collection of new digital narratives.
• OASIS: The Videogames Exhibition (Madrid): Outstanding proposal among contemporary interactive documentaries.
• Festivals and exhibitions in Mexico, Canada, the Netherlands, and Colombia, among others.

These recognitions place Atuel as one of the world's leading figures in the dialogue between games, art and environmental awareness.

The creative process: from documentary research to digital art

The gestation of Atuel is the result of the interdisciplinary collaboration between programmers, artists, documentary filmmakers, and musicians. It all began when The 12.01 Project, a team of documentary filmmakers, conducted an exhaustive investigation in the Atuel River area, collecting interviews, film footage, and stories of all kinds. During this process, they set out to transform this wealth of information and testimonies into a game that would represent the complexity of the ecosystem and local culture without falling into mere didacticism.

The Matajuegos team, known for its history of political and social experimentation within independent gaming, joined not only as a technical developer, but also as a conceptual and artistic co-author. Together, both groups worked with creative freedom and mutual respect, successfully assembling Real interviews, field recordings, aerial images and ethnographic research in a poetic, emotional and open-to-interpretation interactive narrative.

Digital art, led by Santiago Franzani, is based on photographic and cartographic references from the Atuel River's area of ​​influence, but always opting for its own visual language, where realism merges with surrealism to invite a more subjective and emotional perception of the river and its surroundings.

In the music and sound editing, the participation of Makunouchi Bento, a band recognized for its ability to create experimental atmospheres, which here adds soundscapes based on field recordings, sounds of wildlife and water, and original compositions that accompany each segment of the journey.

What Atuel is about: mechanics, narrative, and gameplay

Atuel's proposal departs from traditional video game schemes. There are no enemies, strict missions, or skill challenges. Rather, it is a experience of sensory and narrative exploration, where the player is the protagonist of a transformative journey along the Atuel River and its various symbolic worlds.

During the adventure, the player will go taking different formsFrom being a drop of water or a river current, to endemic animals like birds and fish, to becoming ecosystem elements like stones or plants. Each transformation enables new ways of moving and discovering hidden fragments of history, unique perspectives, and layers of meaning that enrich the experience.

The advance along the riverbed is accompanied by off-screen testimonies, which arise from real interviews with biologists, geologists, artisans, residents, indigenous people and activists from the region. These stories address both scientific aspects (biodiversity, geography, water problems) as well as cultural, historical and spiritual, inviting a deep reflection on the interdependence between humanity and nature.

In parallel, the narrative provides information on the importance of wetlands, river dynamics, the history of water management, the challenges of drought, and the ecological crisis, but always from a sensitive and engaging perspective, prioritizing emotional connection and openness to dialogue over the imposition of a single message.

The gameplay is extremely accessible: no traditional gaming skills are required, and it is designed so that anyone, even those who don't usually play video games, can enjoy, understand, and get involved in the experience. This allows Atuel to also have an enormous educational potential, both in formal and informal settings, and that can be used to raise awareness about contemporary environmental issues.

Relevance and educational potential of Atuel

Atuel has been highlighted, not only for his originality and artistic quality, but for his potential as innovative educational toolThe opportunity to experience the river from within, putting oneself in the shoes of organisms and elements of the environment, allows environmental issues to be approached empathetically, facilitating discussion, interpretation, and dialogue in the classroom, museums, cultural centers, and social groups.

Unlike other products known as "serious games" or traditional "educational games," Atuel doesn't aim to impose a moral or turn learning into a chore. The goal is for each player to interpret the interactive text in their own way, question, reflect, and share that learning in an enriching exchange, as they would with a novel or an art-house film.

Several experts in pedagogy and digital culture have pointed out that the format It allows us to address curricular contents of social sciences, natural sciences, art and ethics from a comprehensive and critical perspective, promoting skills such as observation, empathy, ecological thinking, and historical awareness.

The Matajuegos team itself emphasizes that the game's target audience goes beyond the typical video game audience; it is especially aimed at people who don't consider themselves gamers and who may find this offering a gateway to interactive digital culture.

Reviews and opinions about Atuel

Professional and public reception has been overwhelmingly positive. Various media outlets, both video game and cultural, have highlighted the Atuel's ability to create immersive and transformative experiences allied with art and ecology. Here are some of the most relevant opinions:

• Robert Yang: “Atuel is a documentary about the climate crisis in the form of an exploration video game where you play as the river. A lofty idea masterfully executed.”
• Andrew Plotkin: “It's not a single voice, but a collection of stories that describe the Atuel River in Argentina. You guide a drop of water, a bird, or a fish, while scientists and locals share their perspectives. It's a small project, but evocatively and beautifully presented.”
• James Coltrain: “It combines geography, science, history, and beautiful graphics into a sublime experience.”

The general public also highlights the value of immersing themselves in a different approach, one that invites introspection and offers a fresh perspective on how video games can contribute to the social and ecological debate.

Awards and festivals: consolidating their cultural and artistic value

• Indiecade (Anywhere & Everywhere): Award for innovation in design and narrative.
• Argentina Video Game Expo (EVA): Recognition for the best original game.
• A MAZE. / Berlin: Official selection, recognition for artistic experimentation.
• PLAY Creative Gaming Festival (Hamburg): Exhibition as an outstanding interactive proposal.
• Cannes Film Festival: Special invitation to the new narratives sector.
• Smithsonian American Art Museum (Washington DC): Integration as part of the collection of new digital narratives.
• OASIS: The Videogames Exhibition (Madrid): Outstanding proposal among contemporary interactive documentaries.
• Festivals and exhibitions in Mexico, Canada, the Netherlands, and Colombia, among others.

These recognitions place Atuel as one of the world's leading figures in the dialogue between games, art and environmental awareness.

The creative process: from documentary research to digital art

The gestation of Atuel is the result of the interdisciplinary collaboration between programmers, artists, documentary filmmakers, and musicians. It all began when The 12.01 Project, a team of documentary filmmakers, conducted an exhaustive investigation in the Atuel River area, collecting interviews, film footage, and stories of all kinds. During this process, they set out to transform this wealth of information and testimonies into a game that would represent the complexity of the ecosystem and local culture without falling into mere didacticism.

The Matajuegos team, known for its history of political and social experimentation within independent gaming, joined not only as a technical developer, but also as a conceptual and artistic co-author. Together, both groups worked with creative freedom and mutual respect, successfully assembling Real interviews, field recordings, aerial images and ethnographic research in a poetic, emotional and open-to-interpretation interactive narrative.

Digital art, led by Santiago Franzani, is based on photographic and cartographic references from the Atuel River's area of ​​influence, but always opting for its own visual language, where realism merges with surrealism to invite a more subjective and emotional perception of the river and its surroundings.

In the music and sound editing, the participation of Makunouchi Bento, a band recognized for its ability to create experimental atmospheres, which here adds soundscapes based on field recordings, sounds of wildlife and water, and original compositions that accompany each segment of the journey.

What Atuel is about: mechanics, narrative, and gameplay

Atuel's proposal departs from traditional video game schemes. There are no enemies, strict missions, or skill challenges. Rather, it is a experience of sensory and narrative exploration, where the player is the protagonist of a transformative journey along the Atuel River and its various symbolic worlds.

During the adventure, the player will go taking different formsFrom being a drop of water or a river current, to endemic animals like birds and fish, to becoming ecosystem elements like stones or plants. Each transformation enables new ways of moving and discovering hidden fragments of history, unique perspectives, and layers of meaning that enrich the experience.

The advance along the riverbed is accompanied by off-screen testimonies, which arise from real interviews with biologists, geologists, artisans, residents, indigenous people and activists from the region. These stories address both scientific aspects (biodiversity, geography, water problems) as well as cultural, historical and spiritual, inviting a deep reflection on the interdependence between humanity and nature.

In parallel, the narrative provides information on the importance of wetlands, river dynamics, the history of water management, the challenges of drought, and the ecological crisis, but always from a sensitive and engaging perspective, prioritizing emotional connection and openness to dialogue over the imposition of a single message.

The gameplay is extremely accessible: no traditional gaming skills are required, and it is designed so that anyone, even those who don't usually play video games, can enjoy, understand, and get involved in the experience. This allows Atuel to also have an enormous educational potential, both in formal and informal settings, and that can be used to raise awareness about contemporary environmental issues.

Relevance and educational potential of Atuel

Atuel has been highlighted, not only for his originality and artistic quality, but for his potential as innovative educational toolThe opportunity to experience the river from within, putting oneself in the shoes of organisms and elements of the environment, allows environmental issues to be approached empathetically, facilitating discussion, interpretation, and dialogue in the classroom, museums, cultural centers, and social groups.

Unlike other products known as "serious games" or traditional "educational games," Atuel doesn't aim to impose a moral or turn learning into a chore. The goal is for each player to interpret the interactive text in their own way, question, reflect, and share that learning in an enriching exchange, as they would with a novel or an art-house film.

Several experts in pedagogy and digital culture have pointed out that the format It allows us to address curricular contents of social sciences, natural sciences, art and ethics from a comprehensive and critical perspective, promoting skills such as observation, empathy, ecological thinking, and historical awareness.

The Matajuegos team itself emphasizes that the game's target audience goes beyond the typical video game audience; it is especially aimed at people who don't consider themselves gamers and who may find this offering a gateway to interactive digital culture.

Reviews and opinions about Atuel

Professional and public reception has been overwhelmingly positive. Various media outlets, both video game and cultural, have highlighted the Atuel's ability to create immersive and transformative experiences allied with art and ecology. Here are some of the most relevant opinions:

• Robert Yang: “Atuel is a documentary about the climate crisis in the form of an exploration video game where you play as the river. A lofty idea masterfully executed.”
• Andrew Plotkin: “It's not a single voice, but a collection of stories that describe the Atuel River in Argentina. You guide a drop of water, a bird, or a fish, while scientists and locals share their perspectives. It's a small project, but evocatively and beautifully presented.”
• James Coltrain: “It combines geography, science, history, and beautiful graphics into a sublime experience.”

The general public also highlights the value of immersing themselves in a different approach, one that invites introspection and offers a fresh perspective on how video games can contribute to the social and ecological debate.

Awards and festivals: consolidating their cultural and artistic value

• Indiecade (Anywhere & Everywhere): Award for innovation in design and narrative.
• Argentina Video Game Expo (EVA): Recognition for the best original game.
• A MAZE. / Berlin: Official selection, recognition for artistic experimentation.
• PLAY Creative Gaming Festival (Hamburg): Exhibition as an outstanding interactive proposal.
• Cannes Film Festival: Special invitation to the new narratives sector.
• Smithsonian American Art Museum (Washington DC): Integration as part of the collection of new digital narratives.
• OASIS: The Videogames Exhibition (Madrid): Outstanding proposal among contemporary interactive documentaries.
• Festivals and exhibitions in Mexico, Canada, the Netherlands, and Colombia, among others.

These recognitions place Atuel as one of the world's leading figures in the dialogue between games, art and environmental awareness.

The creative process: from documentary research to digital art

The gestation of Atuel is the result of the interdisciplinary collaboration between programmers, artists, documentary filmmakers, and musicians. It all began when The 12.01 Project, a team of documentary filmmakers, conducted an exhaustive investigation in the Atuel River area, collecting interviews, film footage, and stories of all kinds. During this process, they set out to transform this wealth of information and testimonies into a game that would represent the complexity of the ecosystem and local culture without falling into mere didacticism.

The Matajuegos team, known for its history of political and social experimentation within independent gaming, joined not only as a technical developer, but also as a conceptual and artistic co-author. Together, both groups worked with creative freedom and mutual respect, successfully assembling Real interviews, field recordings, aerial images and ethnographic research in a poetic, emotional and open-to-interpretation interactive narrative.

Digital art, led by Santiago Franzani, is based on photographic and cartographic references from the Atuel River's area of ​​influence, but always opting for its own visual language, where realism merges with surrealism to invite a more subjective and emotional perception of the river and its surroundings.

In the music and sound editing, the participation of Makunouchi Bento, a band recognized for its ability to create experimental atmospheres, which here adds soundscapes based on field recordings, sounds of wildlife and water, and original compositions that accompany each segment of the journey.

What Atuel is about: mechanics, narrative, and gameplay

Atuel's proposal departs from traditional video game schemes. There are no enemies, strict missions, or skill challenges. Rather, it is a experience of sensory and narrative exploration, where the player is the protagonist of a transformative journey along the Atuel River and its various symbolic worlds.

During the adventure, the player will go taking different formsFrom being a drop of water or a river current, to endemic animals like birds and fish, to becoming ecosystem elements like stones or plants. Each transformation enables new ways of moving and discovering hidden fragments of history, unique perspectives, and layers of meaning that enrich the experience.

The advance along the riverbed is accompanied by off-screen testimonies, which arise from real interviews with biologists, geologists, artisans, residents, indigenous people and activists from the region. These stories address both scientific aspects (biodiversity, geography, water problems) as well as cultural, historical and spiritual, inviting a deep reflection on the interdependence between humanity and nature.

In parallel, the narrative provides information on the importance of wetlands, river dynamics, the history of water management, the challenges of drought, and the ecological crisis, but always from a sensitive and engaging perspective, prioritizing emotional connection and openness to dialogue over the imposition of a single message.

The gameplay is extremely accessible: no traditional gaming skills are required, and it is designed so that anyone, even those who don't usually play video games, can enjoy, understand, and get involved in the experience. This allows Atuel to also have an enormous educational potential, both in formal and informal settings, and that can be used to raise awareness about contemporary environmental issues.

Relevance and educational potential of Atuel

Atuel has been highlighted, not only for his originality and artistic quality, but for his potential as innovative educational toolThe opportunity to experience the river from within, putting oneself in the shoes of organisms and elements of the environment, allows environmental issues to be approached empathetically, facilitating discussion, interpretation, and dialogue in the classroom, museums, cultural centers, and social groups.

Unlike other products known as "serious games" or traditional "educational games," Atuel doesn't aim to impose a moral or turn learning into a chore. The goal is for each player to interpret the interactive text in their own way, question, reflect, and share that learning in an enriching exchange, as they would with a novel or an art-house film.

Several experts in pedagogy and digital culture have pointed out that the format It allows us to address curricular contents of social sciences, natural sciences, art and ethics from a comprehensive and critical perspective, promoting skills such as observation, empathy, ecological thinking, and historical awareness.

The Matajuegos team itself emphasizes that the game's target audience goes beyond the typical video game audience; it is especially aimed at people who don't consider themselves gamers and who may find this offering a gateway to interactive digital culture.

Reviews and opinions about Atuel

Professional and public reception has been overwhelmingly positive. Various media outlets, both video game and cultural, have highlighted the Atuel's ability to create immersive and transformative experiences allied with art and ecology. Here are some of the most relevant opinions:

• Robert Yang: “Atuel is a documentary about the climate crisis in the form of an exploration video game where you play as the river. A lofty idea masterfully executed.”
• Andrew Plotkin: “It's not a single voice, but a collection of stories that describe the Atuel River in Argentina. You guide a drop of water, a bird, or a fish, while scientists and locals share their perspectives. It's a small project, but evocatively and beautifully presented.”
• James Coltrain: “It combines geography, science, history, and beautiful graphics into a sublime experience.”

The general public also highlights the value of immersing themselves in a different approach, one that invites introspection and offers a fresh perspective on how video games can contribute to the social and ecological debate.

Awards and festivals: consolidating their cultural and artistic value

• Indiecade (Anywhere & Everywhere): Award for innovation in design and narrative.
• Argentina Video Game Expo (EVA): Recognition for the best original game.
• A MAZE. / Berlin: Official selection, recognition for artistic experimentation.
• PLAY Creative Gaming Festival (Hamburg): Exhibition as an outstanding interactive proposal.
• Cannes Film Festival: Special invitation to the new narratives sector.
• Smithsonian American Art Museum (Washington DC): Integration as part of the collection of new digital narratives.
• OASIS: The Videogames Exhibition (Madrid): Outstanding proposal among contemporary interactive documentaries.
• Festivals and exhibitions in Mexico, Canada, the Netherlands, and Colombia, among others.

These recognitions place Atuel as one of the world's leading figures in the dialogue between games, art and environmental awareness.

The creative process: from documentary research to digital art

The gestation of Atuel is the result of the interdisciplinary collaboration between programmers, artists, documentary filmmakers, and musicians. It all began when The 12.01 Project, a team of documentary filmmakers, conducted an exhaustive investigation in the Atuel River area, collecting interviews, film footage, and stories of all kinds. During this process, they set out to transform this wealth of information and testimonies into a game that would represent the complexity of the ecosystem and local culture without falling into mere didacticism.

The Matajuegos team, known for its history of political and social experimentation within independent gaming, joined not only as a technical developer, but also as a conceptual and artistic co-author. Together, both groups worked with creative freedom and mutual respect, successfully assembling Real interviews, field recordings, aerial images and ethnographic research in a poetic, emotional and open-to-interpretation interactive narrative.

Digital art, led by Santiago Franzani, is based on photographic and cartographic references from the Atuel River's area of ​​influence, but always opting for its own visual language, where realism merges with surrealism to invite a more subjective and emotional perception of the river and its surroundings.

In the music and sound editing, the participation of Makunouchi Bento, a band recognized for its ability to create experimental atmospheres, which here adds soundscapes based on field recordings, sounds of wildlife and water, and original compositions that accompany each segment of the journey.

What Atuel is about: mechanics, narrative, and gameplay

Atuel's proposal departs from traditional video game schemes. There are no enemies, strict missions, or skill challenges. Rather, it is a experience of sensory and narrative exploration, where the player is the protagonist of a transformative journey along the Atuel River and its various symbolic worlds.

During the adventure, the player will go taking different formsFrom being a drop of water or a river current, to endemic animals like birds and fish, to becoming ecosystem elements like stones or plants. Each transformation enables new ways of moving and discovering hidden fragments of history, unique perspectives, and layers of meaning that enrich the experience.

The advance along the riverbed is accompanied by off-screen testimonies, which arise from real interviews with biologists, geologists, artisans, residents, indigenous people and activists from the region. These stories address both scientific aspects (biodiversity, geography, water problems) as well as cultural, historical and spiritual, inviting a deep reflection on the interdependence between humanity and nature.

In parallel, the narrative provides information on the importance of wetlands, river dynamics, the history of water management, the challenges of drought, and the ecological crisis, but always from a sensitive and engaging perspective, prioritizing emotional connection and openness to dialogue over the imposition of a single message.

The gameplay is extremely accessible: no traditional gaming skills are required, and it is designed so that anyone, even those who don't usually play video games, can enjoy, understand, and get involved in the experience. This allows Atuel to also have an enormous educational potential, both in formal and informal settings, and that can be used to raise awareness about contemporary environmental issues.

Relevance and educational potential of Atuel

Atuel has been highlighted, not only for his originality and artistic quality, but for his potential as innovative educational toolThe opportunity to experience the river from within, putting oneself in the shoes of organisms and elements of the environment, allows environmental issues to be approached empathetically, facilitating discussion, interpretation, and dialogue in the classroom, museums, cultural centers, and social groups.

Unlike other products known as "serious games" or traditional "educational games," Atuel doesn't aim to impose a moral or turn learning into a chore. The goal is for each player to interpret the interactive text in their own way, question, reflect, and share that learning in an enriching exchange, as they would with a novel or an art-house film.

Several experts in pedagogy and digital culture have pointed out that the format It allows us to address curricular contents of social sciences, natural sciences, art and ethics from a comprehensive and critical perspective, promoting skills such as observation, empathy, ecological thinking, and historical awareness.

The Matajuegos team itself emphasizes that the game's target audience goes beyond the typical video game audience; it is especially aimed at people who don't consider themselves gamers and who may find this offering a gateway to interactive digital culture.

Reviews and opinions about Atuel

Professional and public reception has been overwhelmingly positive. Various media outlets, both video game and cultural, have highlighted the Atuel's ability to create immersive and transformative experiences allied with art and ecology. Here are some of the most relevant opinions:

• Robert Yang: “Atuel is a documentary about the climate crisis in the form of an exploration video game where you play as the river. A lofty idea masterfully executed.”
• Andrew Plotkin: “It's not a single voice, but a collection of stories that describe the Atuel River in Argentina. You guide a drop of water, a bird, or a fish, while scientists and locals share their perspectives. It's a small project, but evocatively and beautifully presented.”
• James Coltrain: “It combines geography, science, history, and beautiful graphics into a sublime experience.”

The general public also highlights the value of immersing themselves in a different approach, one that invites introspection and offers a fresh perspective on how video games can contribute to the social and ecological debate.

Awards and festivals: consolidating their cultural and artistic value

• Indiecade (Anywhere & Everywhere): Award for innovation in design and narrative.
• Argentina Video Game Expo (EVA): Recognition for the best original game.
• A MAZE. / Berlin: Official selection, recognition for artistic experimentation.
• PLAY Creative Gaming Festival (Hamburg): Exhibition as an outstanding interactive proposal.
• Cannes Film Festival: Special invitation to the new narratives sector.
• Smithsonian American Art Museum (Washington DC): Integration as part of the collection of new digital narratives.
• OASIS: The Videogames Exhibition (Madrid): Outstanding proposal among contemporary interactive documentaries.
• Festivals and exhibitions in Mexico, Canada, the Netherlands, and Colombia, among others.

These recognitions place Atuel as one of the world's leading figures in the dialogue between games, art and environmental awareness.

The creative process: from documentary research to digital art

The gestation of Atuel is the result of the interdisciplinary collaboration between programmers, artists, documentary filmmakers, and musicians. It all began when The 12.01 Project, a team of documentary filmmakers, conducted an exhaustive investigation in the Atuel River area, collecting interviews, film footage, and stories of all kinds. During this process, they set out to transform this wealth of information and testimonies into a game that would represent the complexity of the ecosystem and local culture without falling into mere didacticism.

The Matajuegos team, known for its history of political and social experimentation within independent gaming, joined not only as a technical developer, but also as a conceptual and artistic co-author. Together, both groups worked with creative freedom and mutual respect, successfully assembling Real interviews, field recordings, aerial images and ethnographic research in a poetic, emotional and open-to-interpretation interactive narrative.

Digital art, led by Santiago Franzani, is based on photographic and cartographic references from the Atuel River's area of ​​influence, but always opting for its own visual language, where realism merges with surrealism to invite a more subjective and emotional perception of the river and its surroundings.

In the music and sound editing, the participation of Makunouchi Bento, a band recognized for its ability to create experimental atmospheres, which here adds soundscapes based on field recordings, sounds of wildlife and water, and original compositions that accompany each segment of the journey.

What Atuel is about: mechanics, narrative, and gameplay

Atuel's proposal departs from traditional video game schemes. There are no enemies, strict missions, or skill challenges. Rather, it is a experience of sensory and narrative exploration, where the player is the protagonist of a transformative journey along the Atuel River and its various symbolic worlds.

During the adventure, the player will go taking different formsFrom being a drop of water or a river current, to endemic animals like birds and fish, to becoming ecosystem elements like stones or plants. Each transformation enables new ways of moving and discovering hidden fragments of history, unique perspectives, and layers of meaning that enrich the experience.

The advance along the riverbed is accompanied by off-screen testimonies, which arise from real interviews with biologists, geologists, artisans, residents, indigenous people and activists from the region. These stories address both scientific aspects (biodiversity, geography, water problems) as well as cultural, historical and spiritual, inviting a deep reflection on the interdependence between humanity and nature.

In parallel, the narrative provides information on the importance of wetlands, river dynamics, the history of water management, the challenges of drought, and the ecological crisis, but always from a sensitive and engaging perspective, prioritizing emotional connection and openness to dialogue over the imposition of a single message.

The gameplay is extremely accessible: no traditional gaming skills are required, and it is designed so that anyone, even those who don't usually play video games, can enjoy, understand, and get involved in the experience. This allows Atuel to also have an enormous educational potential, both in formal and informal settings, and that can be used to raise awareness about contemporary environmental issues.