The idea: Ribe, Denmark in the 1650s

I’m working on a historically grounded, third-person simulation of Ribe as it looked around 1650. This specific period is fascinating because it sits right at the crossroads of the town’s final years of prosperity and one of its darkest chapters.

Back then, Ribe was a massive cultural and economic hub, but it was also a place defined by fear and superstition. It was the height of the witch trials, and I want the project to reflect that. The goal is to mix real historical research with an occult, mystical layer, showing how beliefs in magic and the supernatural were just a normal part of everyday life.

This idea has been rattling around in my head for a long time. Growing up in Ribe, I spent a lot of time imagining what the streets looked like when the harbor was full of ships and the town was a true powerhouse of trade.

Riberhus Castle is the place that really captured my imagination as a kid. Today there is nothing left but the moat, but the site still feels heavy with history. It felt almost mythical to me back then, like a ghost of something much larger.

Between my interest in archaeology and my background in CGI, it finally felt like the right time to stop just thinking about it and start building it. This is my attempt to bring a piece of that world back to life.

I’d love to hear any thoughts or ideas you might have.