Explore Richmond's Spooky Side in This Retro Video Game (2025)

Imagine stepping into a time machine that whisks you back to the 90s, but instead of acid-wash jeans and cassette tapes, you’re handed a Game Boy—and the world you’re about to explore is your very own city, Richmond, in all its pixelated, 32-bit glory. But here’s where it gets controversial: What if this retro video game doesn’t just let you relive nostalgia but also uncovers the eerie, lesser-known tales buried beneath Richmond’s streets? That’s exactly what Joseph 'Tripp' Cannella has done with Small Town RVA, a passion project that transforms the River City into a digital playground brimming with history, folklore, and a dash of spookiness.

Cannella, inspired by childhood favorites like Pokémon, spent five years crafting this online game, where Richmond’s trails, rivers, and landmarks are reimagined in a style reminiscent of the Game Boy era. 'I always dreamed of visiting the virtual worlds I played in as a kid,' he explains. 'So, I thought, why not bring that magic to Richmond? What if my city had its own Game Boy version?' The result is a 'tiny digital clone' of Richmond that fits in your pocket, complete with nods to the city’s haunted history and local legends.

And this is the part most people miss: Small Town RVA isn’t just a game—it’s a living, breathing tribute to Richmond’s past and present. Players can interact with historic photos at iconic spots like Monroe Park’s water fountain or the Church Hill tunnel, and even stumble upon vanished landmarks like Pratt’s Castle. The game’s story mode takes you on a journey through the city’s spookier side, starting at VCU’s Brandt Hall and leading to sites tied to the infamous Richmond Vampire. 'I wanted something the city could get excited about, especially for Halloween,' Cannella says. 'The Richmond Vampire? He’s in there, and he’s got a connection to the Church Hill tunnel.'

But Cannella didn’t stop at nostalgia. Small Town RVA also features a GPS function similar to Pokémon GO, allowing the in-game map to mirror your real-world location. Players can add their own photos, chat with others, and explore together, making it as much a social experience as an exploratory one. 'It’s about getting people to know the city—its stories, its quirks, its people,' Cannella explains. 'I want it to feel like a community-driven project.'

Here’s where it gets even more intriguing: Cannella is open to suggestions, from adding Richmond’s quirky details (like discarded chicken wings on sidewalks, which might give you a performance boost in the game) to collaborating with art students to design in-game characters and items. 'I want the game to evolve with the city,' he says. 'It’s not just about the past—it’s about the people who live here now.'

So, is Small Town RVA just a game, or is it a love letter to Richmond’s history, a social experiment, or even a commentary on how we interact with our cities? That’s for you to decide. What do you think? Does pixelating a city’s past help us appreciate its present, or does it oversimplify its complexities? Let us know in the comments—and while you’re at it, why not log on to SmallTownRVA.com to start your own exploration? Who knows? You might just uncover a side of Richmond you’ve never seen before.

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This story was initially reported by a journalist and has been adapted with the assistance of AI. Our editorial team verifies all reporting for fairness and accuracy. To learn more about our use of AI, click here (https://www.wtvr.com/news/local-news/how-we-use-ai-at-wtvr).