My Child Lebensborn
A social simulation about raising a Lebensborn child in post-war Norway.
My Child Lebensborn is a 2018 social simulation game developed by Teknopilot and Sarepta Studio. The player acts as a parent to a Lebensborn child in post-World War II Norway, guiding them through the challenges of growing up amid bullying due to their heritage. The game received praise for its portrayal of emotional trauma, though reviewers noted it could be a difficult experience.
Quick Facts
- Developer
- Sarepta Studio
- Platforms
- Android
- iOS
- Windows
- Nintendo Switch
- PlayStation 4
- Xbox One
- Released
- Android
- May 8, 2018
- iOS
- May 18, 2018
- Windows, Switch, PS4, Xbox One
- June 1, 2021
- Genre
- Social simulation game
- Modes
- Single-player
- Publisher
- Teknopilot
Facts from the source article.
Gameplay
The player adopts a Lebensborn child in Norway after World War II and makes choices based on off-screen events, such as responding to bullying at school. At home, the player cares for the child through activities like washing, feeding, cooking, or reading bedtime stories, using limited time units each day. At the end of each chapter, the player sees how their decisions have affected the child's mental status.
Development
Elin Festøy, a creative producer, was making a documentary about Norwegian children born to occupied women and German soldiers during World War II, but decided a film would not connect with teenagers. She partnered with game developer Catharina Bøhler to create what Festøy called a documentary game. Festøy believed a video game could better convey the children's experiences, since few photographs of the bullied children exist, making animation a more effective way to visualize their situation. The game was among the first video games allowed to show the swastika in Germany. Funding came from a Norwegian government arts grant and a successful Kickstarter campaign.
Reception
Reviewers found the game not fun due to its dark story but felt it taught important lessons and was worth experiencing. Polygon's Colin Campbell called it a bullying-management simulation and praised it as uncomfortable. Der Spiegel's Matthias Kreienbrink described it as partly depressing and partly enlightening. The Guardian's Simon Parkin called it fierce and unflinching, though a difficult, oppressive, and repetitive ride. Pocket Gamer's Emily Sowden considered it an educational experience worth the price of a cup of coffee. The game won a 2018 BAFTA Games Award for Game beyond entertainment. Google Play later blocked access in Germany, Austria, Russia, and France due to sensitive content, but the game has since been unblocked.
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