Online Christian games have become more common in the past few years but Joanne Gilchrist thinks she has just found the best one ever

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Anyone familiar with Genesis 3:15 will immediately spot that this game has something to do with the Bible. For those less familiar, it’s an intriguing gateway into another world…

You find yourself in a dystopian future where the Word of God has been lost. Only a few precious copies remain and they are kept hidden and secret. A little robin and an owl find a copy and the world of the Bible unfolds before them from the Garden of Eden, the wilderness of Cain and Abel, the floods of Noah, the plains of Abraham, Lot and Issac, the temple of Pharaoh… all the way to the revelation of ‘The Seed’ who came to make all things new, to restore, heal and make the world right again.

This game is a beautiful, generous gift to the world and demands nothing from you except your time

I admit, it took a while to reach the end because the game has inbuilt pauses, which encourage you to stop playing and reflect on the story so far. Imagine that? A mobile game that suggests you stop for a break to come back later!

The makers of this game are the charity Discipleship Tech, led by CEO Andy Geers whose vision was to make a game that gave the big picture overview of the Bible in one smooth narrative. His desire was to help people understand how it all links together from beginning to end and how Jesus - ‘the seed’ - is the common thread that holds it all together.

Andy first had the idea for this game over 20 years ago and has devoted the past 5 years of his life to developing it. I first met him in 2021 when every spare moment, he was pulling out his laptop, working furiously to meet the next deadline of game development. His hard work has paid off.

The Serpent and the Seed does not dumb-down or trivialise the truth but neither is it cringe-worthy or explicit. It is safe and yet thought provoking

This is, without question, the most beautiful, creative storytelling of the Bible that I have ever come across (and I have played on many, many Bible apps). I particularly love the scene as Moses is walking through the palace, away from Pharaoh, having just been rejected. As he slowly departs, the Egyptian statues in the background morph into each of the 12 plagues while a haunting soundtrack plays. 

The music is otherworldly, calming and beautiful. It was purpose-written for this game by Poor Bishop Hooper who were apparently thrilled to accept the project as they love to work on lyrics that don’t have a resolution; exactly what is needed for theological cliffhangers at the end of each chapter. 

Who is this game for?

It is not a child’s game but it is suitable for children. I played it with my seven year old but she needed help as she can’t yet read fast enough before the scene changes. Children over nine could play it alone but the real sweet-spot is for teenagers and young adults. It’s similar in feel to other ‘cosy games’, popular with this age group. It would also be suitable to use in outreach events, which Andy himself has done. 

Is it biblically accurate?

Yes. I love the attention to detail, like the children who cry “Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord” at Jesus’ triumphant entry to Jerusalem or the unrecognisable fruit on the tree of the knowledge of good and evil (instead of the good ol’ renaissance apple). The game does not shy away from tough parts of the Bible like the near-sacrifice of Issac or the plagues of Egypt but neither does it try to interpret everything for you. Instead, you’re given glimpses of how it all connects as part of the larger narrative of the Bible that points towards Jesus.

 

Read more:

Step In - Premier’s new Bible podcast for children provides a rich resource for Christian parents

Clever Club Bible Bingo: A great game to help children learn and meditate on Bible stories

 

Is it free and where can I get it?

Yes, thanks to years worth of fundraising and other people’s donations, this game is free to play. You do not need to create an account or share any personal details. There are no no-app purchases and you don’t get halfway through and then have to pay to unlock the rest. This game is a beautiful, generous gift to the world and demands nothing from you except your time. You can get hold of it from the App Store on your Apple device, or Google Play on Android.

Is it fun?

There are moments of humour, lots of games to play, videos to watch, songs to listen to and moments to pause and reflect. It has a good balance between watching and interacting and each game is designed to help you understand the story. You collect different seeds at the end of chapters - seeds of promise, seeds of Eve, seed of Abraham etc - which grow into trees; the tree theme holds all the different elements of the game together. 

The Serpent and the Seed does not dumb-down or trivialise the truth but neither is it cringe-worthy or explicit. It is safe and yet thought provoking. After playing this game, you will feel that it was time well spent. I highly recommend it. 

Some helpful links:

Joanne Gilchrist is a writer and Director of Ruach Resources, the home of God for Kids app and Animals of Eden Valley Books. She has 3 children, a Graduate Certificate in Theology, Ministry and Mission and is an active member of her local church in Sheffield.View full Profile

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