Luc Bernard, a French-Jewish game creator, is changing how young people learn about the Holocaust. Known for his powerful game The Light in the Darkness, Bernard tells the story of a Jewish family living in France during WWII.
The game doesn’t focus on action or winning––it shows the real, painful experiences of Jews during the Holocaust. Bernard made the game free so that more people, especially students, could learn from it. “I wanted to show that for Jews, survival was just a matter of luck,” he said.
Now, Bernard has created a new way to teach history––inside Fortnite, one of the world’s most popular games. His virtual Holocaust Museum enables players to explore the history of the Holocaust in an interactive way. “Players feel like they’re part of the story,” Bernard said. “That helps them connect and remember what they’ve learned.” The museum has already reached millions of people.
Bernard was inspired to act after seeing shocking statistics: in the U.S., most young people can’t name a concentration camp, and many don’t know 6 million Jews were murdered in the Holocaust. He believes video games are a key way to reach the younger generation. “Books and movies aren’t enough anymore,” he said. “Games are where young people are spending their time, so we need to meet them there.” Now living in LA, Bernard continues to push boundaries in gaming and education.
