Richmond's First Video Game Has Arrived (Small Town RVA)

October 30, 2025 · 4:45 read

Category: Arts & Culture

Show: Unscripted RVA

10% OFF your next purchase at Point 5 in Carytown: https://verahouse.co/point5 Watch the full episode here: https://youtu.be/70KWO_E4YxA Got thoughts? Send us a text here: https://www.buzzsprout.com/t

10% OFF your next purchase at Point 5 in Carytown:

https://verahouse.co/point5

Watch the full episode here: https://youtu.be/70KWO_E4YxA

Got thoughts? Send us a text here:

https://www.buzzsprout.com/twilio/text_messages/2513071/open_sms

Richmond just got playable. Small Town RVA is a 32-bit, Game Boy–style map of the city where you can wander real trails, rivers, roads, and landmarks—Monroe Park’s fountain, James Monroe’s grave, the Church Hill tunnel, even vanished sites like Pratt’s Castle—with nods to local lore like the Richmond Vampire. Built by Joseph “Tripp” Cannella, it starts you at VCU’s Brandt Hall and layers in social features: GPS-style mapping, live chat, and player photos placed on the in-game map. It’s a pocket-sized Richmond built for spooky season and beyond.

Play the game for yourself here: https://smalltownrva.com

In this clip, we talk why it works: nostalgia with purpose, city exploration as game design, and how community feedback keeps adding features (mini-map tweaks, historic photo interactions, weather-aware moments). If you’re RVA-obsessed—or just curious what a playable Richmond feels like—this one’s for you.

Subscribe to the audio podcast:

https://verahouse.buzzsprout.com

Follow us:

https://instagram.com/verahouse.co

Hosted by Myke Metzger & Perri Young:

https://instagram.com/mykemetzger

https://instagram.com/planetperri

Learn more about our studio:

https://verahouse.co

This podcast is produced by ⁠Vera House⁠ — a creative club and media studio based in Richmond, Virginia. Our studio exists to champion creative expression, elevate culture, and produce high-impact content for founders, makers, and modern brands in Richmond.

Cast: https://verahouse.buzzsprout.com