Video games - exhibition at the Cité des Sciences

Thevideo game area at the Cité des Sciences - e-lab - is a permanent exhibition whose theme changes every year. This year, the theme is time.

e-LAB: video games through the prism of time

The e-LAB, an immersive, interactive space, plunges into a captivating theme this year: time in video games. Between linearity, distortion and manipulation, time becomes a key tool, shaping the rules of virtual universes and players' experiences.

Some games use time as a narrative element, others as a gameplay mechanic. Some adapt to short sessions, others to long immersions. How does our relationship with time influence the way we play?

Through a variety of experiences, the e-LAB invites visitors to discover how video games play with time - and redefine its limits for the duration of a game.

e-LAB areas

Past, present, future

Immerse yourself in a time machine: video games defy time. Hunt in prehistory, cross paths with historical figures or confront dystopian futures. A selection of games to explore real or imaginary worlds, between nostalgia and anticipation.

A look back in time

Return to the origins of video games: relive the golden age of the arcade, when 2D and immersion reigned supreme. A plunge into an atmosphere that is now almost extinct, but as captivating as ever.

Playing with time

What if you could rewrite your mistakes? Here, time becomes a gameplay tool: rewind your actions, freeze the moment to refine your strategy, or explore innovative temporal mechanics. A zone to manipulate time like never before.

Intimate time

Video games adapt to your time. Mobile games, once confined to "hobbies", now offer short but rich experiences, ideal for a commute or a break. An intimacy that reinforces immersion and attachment to stories.

The Agora

A space for meetings and debate, the Agora takes the e-LAB theme a step further. Forums, events and exchanges with industry professionals: a place to question, experiment and discover the challenges of video games.

The Decoding zone

Features, figures and analyses: decipher the medium from every angle. The job market, innovative techniques, societal impact... A behind-the-scenes look at a world that's much bigger than it seems.

The Offside Zone

An offbeat look at video games, with or without a theme. Discover must-haves like mechanical Pong or pixel art creations: a playful and unusual exploration of the medium.

E-Lab is accessible with an Exhibition ticket, and is recommended for children aged 7 and over. Exhibition in French, English and Spanish.

Discover the video game music exhibition at La Philharmonie de Paris, not far from the Cité des Sciences.

Visual: © Image completed by IA/Doc Levin Studio/Jeanne Triboul, Léo Quetglas. Photo Véronique Pêcheux.