Unemployed donkeys are the key to this 7-hour communal gaming experience

January 30, 2026 - 02:39

A unique and ambitious seven-hour video game experience is preparing to unfold at UCLA, with an unexpected cast of digital characters at its heart: unemployed donkeys. This experimental event promises to blend communal participation with a sprawling, slow-burn narrative.

The game itself is designed as a single, continuous session where participants collectively navigate a digital world. The donkeys, creatures without a programmed purpose within this environment, become focal points. Players are tasked with finding roles and creating meaning for these animals, turning them from idle background elements into central figures in an emergent story. The experience emphasizes collaboration, shared problem-solving, and the organic creation of lore over traditional competitive gameplay.

Organizers describe it as an exploration of community dynamics and narrative-building. By committing to the extended timeframe, they aim to foster a deep, sustained engagement rarely seen in conventional gaming. The event challenges participants to invest not just in winning, but in collectively shaping a unique and memorable digital journey, one aimless donkey at a time.