For young Filipinos, the Martial Law era—those dark years from 1972 to 1981 that cast a long shadow until 1986—is not a lived memory but a chapter in the nation’s history often encountered only at a distance. Bridging the gap between knowing and understanding the hard-earned lessons of that era to a new generation of Filipinos is a challenge.

This inspired Ateneo de Manila University’s Virtual, Augmented, and Mixed Reality (VAMR) Laboratory to collaborate with the Ateneo Martial Law Museum and Library to develop an immersive virtual reality escape room called Heritage Hero: Secrets of the “Golden Era.” In this game, players are placed inside an abandoned mansion linked to the Marcos regime. It is designed to spark curiosity and deepen engagement with this complex chapter of Philippine history.

Rather than simply recounting history as a linear narrative through lectures or displays, this experience lets players immerse themselves in a more nuanced, simulated past. Combining storytelling with hands-on interaction does not offer simple answers; instead, it turns historical learning into an active process of discovery. Through these features, the game encourages players to reflect on how promises of progress were intertwined with the era’s controversies and contradictions.

Designed for young adults aged 15 to 25, the 30-60 minute game unfolds across three rooms, where players interact with objects and solve puzzles that uncover not only facts but also the nuanced hopes and fears embedded in daily life during Martial Law.

“We believe that human learning benefits greatly from embodied cognition, as some forms of thinking are deeply rooted in bodily interactions such as writing and playing, as opposed to just reading or listening,” said VAMR Technical Head Eric Cesar E. Vidal Jr PhD.

Players assemble propaganda materials and operate a printing press, stepping into the shoes of the underground resistance who faced censorship and fought for press freedom. In the kitchen, they make Nutribun, recalling the public health programs of the time. In the bedroom, they examine construction blueprints and government contracts, confronting the complexities of infrastructure projects that still spark debate today.

Preliminary tests with Ateneo students were promising. Many said they felt engaged and involved, even those with little prior experience with virtual reality. Some players also expressed interest in learning more about historical issues introduced in the game.

“Immersive technologies can provide the scaffolding that helps a student begin learning complex historical topics, with interactions that add an element of fun and engagement while gently assuaging students' fears, distress, or skepticism,” Vidal added.

At a time when conversations about the past are closely linked with the present, the researchers hope the project will achieve more than just showcasing technological innovation. By bringing together storytelling, technology, and education, they aim to create experiences that empower younger generations to connect deeply with Philippine history, encouraging not only innovation but also remembrance and reflection.

Eric Cesar E. Vidal Jr., Nicko R. Caluya, Johanna Marion R. Torres, Jesus Alvaro C. Pato, and Kenneth King L. Ko published the proceedings of their study, Design and Testing of a VR Escape Room Game for Philippine Martial Law History, in December 2025 during the 33rd International Conference on Computers in Education, Asia-Pacific Society for Computers in Education.