Experience a 3D narrative-driven adventure in Powwow Bound: A Menominee Homecoming, a video game following a Menominee family returning home to the reservation for the annual contest powwow. It’s now available for free on Steam, the world’s largest digital distribution service for PC games. Download it and play today!

Nebraska Public Media, PBS Wisconsin and Vision Maker Media teamed up with members of the Menominee community to incorporate Indigenous voices and culture into the video game.

Game development was led by Nebraska Public Media Labs game producer/developer Jacob Schwitzer and PBS Wisconsin interactive media producer Angelina Shi.

Indigenous Storytelling through Play

What sets Powwow Bound apart is the project’s deep commitment to cultural authenticity and Indigenous representation. From the start, the game has been guided by an expert team of Menominee advisors, including a writer, concept artist, language and cultural advisors, regalia and dance experts, a beading artist, a woodland floral and appliqué artist, a drum group and voice actors.

This community-led approach ensures the game doesn’t just tell a story about the Menominee people — it shares a story with them, in their own words, through their own designs and grounded in their own knowledge.

Powwow Bound: A Menominee Homecoming Debuts Where Its Story Was Born

Schwitzer shares how creating the video game became a moment of pride, representation and connection for his community.

Concept art from Powwow Bound: A Menominee Homecoming depicting characters watching the contest powwow in the Woodland Bowl.

“Authentic representation in this game is strengthened through a people- and place-based approach,” writer Justin Eagle Gauthier said. “The team has been very intentional in how the story, characters and world are portrayed to a larger gaming public. At its core, this approach has involved many members of the Menominee community representing an array of experiences and belonging to that community.”

The game is also available on the Wisconsin First Nations website along with an educator guide from PBS Wisconsin Education. The guide includes background information, state standards, guiding questions and a Menominee glossary.

The game is also available to play for free at pbswisconsin.org/powwow-bound. It is playable on both Mac and Windows computers, but is not available on tablets or mobile devices.