Immersive VR Experience Revisits Tragic Mining Disaster in ‘Those From Below’

Those from Below offers an intriguing peek into history through the lens of virtual reality, weaving an educational journey around a tragic mining catastrophe. This experience comes to us from Causa Creations and is part of the larger MEMENTOES project. The initiative aims to shed light on historical injustices using VR, teaming up with museums to bring these stories to life. Their mission? To craft immersive experiences that not only educate but also stir empathy and deepen our understanding of past events, all while collaborating with independent developers.

This particular chapter, Those from Below, draws our attention to the Marcinelle mining disaster of 1956 at the Bois du Cazier coal mine. Here, a deadly electrical fire erupted after a coal wagon was wrongly loaded into a lift, a disaster etched into Belgium’s history books. The calamity took 262 lives, most of them belonging to Italian migrant workers, marking it as one of the country’s most harrowing mining accidents.

At Reboot Develop 2025, I had a brief chance to dive into this game on the Quest 3. The journey immerses you in the depths of the mines prior to the tragic incident, vividly depicting the harsh working and living conditions endured by the miners before the unforeseen explosion. Players navigate this environment using hand tracking controls and gaze detection, allowing for a truly visceral experience.

Although my time with the game was short, it offered a unique way to revisit real-life history within a fully immersive setting. This approach echoes past projects like JFK Memento and MLK: Now is the Time, which focused more on themes rooted in American history.

As for when you can experience Those from Below yourself, the release date and specific platforms are still under wraps. Rest assured, we’ll keep you posted with any updates that come our way.