Вокладка гульні.
The Belarusian-Jewish Cultural Heritage Center has presented a unique project — the card-based strategy game “Shtetl.” The game explores the world of small towns where Jews, Belarusians, Poles, Tatars, and other peoples lived side by side for centuries. The project combines meticulous archival research with modern game mechanics.
What is a shtetl? Simply put, it is the world of the small Belarusian towns that, until the middle of the 20th century, formed a distinct universe of their own. Their history opens the door to some remarkable global biographies. Among them are the roots of Michael Marks, founder of Marks & Spencer (born in Slonim), Hollywood actor Kirk Douglas (whose parents came from Chavusy), artist Chaim Soutine (from Smilavichy), and even singer Amy Winehouse (whose family archives trace back to Rakaw).
The game is designed for 2 to 6 players aged 8 and older. The main objective is to develop your town: attract residents, build houses, celebrate weddings, and prepare traditional dishes. At the same time, the game does not idealize the past. Players must also face the real challenges of the era, including taxes, military conscription, and displacement.
The box includes four decks of cards (“Residents,” “Buildings,” “Events,” and “Wisdom of the Torah”), resource markers, and dice. The game is further complemented by a historical guide and recipes from Belarusian-Jewish cuisine.
A large team of specialists worked on the game, making it possible to combine historical accuracy with engaging gameplay. The game mechanics were developed by creators known for the popular board games “Suffering Middle Ages” and “Dogma.”
The visual world of the game was created by contemporary artist Vasil Hryno, who has worked extensively with Disney and the Vulica Brazil festival.
Historical accuracy was ensured by researchers Marya Kaspina and Claire Le Foll. Thanks to their work, every element of the game is based on real sources. The characters reflect people depicted in archival photographs, while the buildings are modeled on real prototypes, including the synagogues of Vaŭpa and Ashmiany and the building of the Mir Yeshiva.
“Shtetl” is currently being prepared for printing. Supporters can participate in the release of the first edition and place a pre-order through the Kickstarter platform. The game is available in two languages: English and Russian.
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