VR Experience Plunges Into the Heart of a Tragic Mining Disaster

“Those from Below” offers a compelling dive into history, wrapped up in the immersive world of VR. It’s an interactive, documentary-style game designed to shed light on the heartbreaking Marcinelle mining disaster. Causa Creations, the minds behind this project, have developed it as part of the broader MEMENTOES initiative, which collaborates with museums to educate on historical injustices through virtual reality. Their goal is clear: to create experiences that not only educate but also build empathy and deepen our understanding of history by teaming up with independent developers.

This particular game zeroes in on the catastrophic events at Belgium’s Bois du Cazier coal mine in 1956. Due to a coal wagon being improperly loaded into a lift, a disastrous electrical fire erupted, culminating in the tragic loss of 262 lives, many of whom were Italian migrant workers. This incident stands as one of Belgium’s most significant mining calamities.

At Reboot Develop 2025, I had the chance to briefly immerse myself in the experience using the Quest 3. The game took me deep into the mine’s depths right before the disaster struck. It provides a chilling, up-close look at the harsh working and living conditions the miners endured. Using hand-tracking controls and gaze detection, “Those from Below” allows players to navigate through this vividly recreated environment.

My time with the game may have been short, but it highlighted a unique way to engage with real history in a virtual setting. This project follows in the footsteps of earlier Causa Creations titles like “JFK Memento” and “MLK: Now is the Time,” which were centered around American historical events.

As of now, there’s no official release date, and the platforms for “Those from Below” beyond Quest 3 remain unspecified. We’ll keep a lookout for updates and share them as soon as we hear more.