Waulking Simulator
Waulking Simulator is a rhythm game that brings the traditional Scottish practice of waulking tweed to life through interactive play. Rooted in communal song and labour, waulking was a vital cultural practice for preparing woven cloth—one that carried stories, traditions, and language through generations.
Developed as part of an ongoing research project, the game explores how video games can serve as a bridge to minority cultures and languages, primarily focusing on Scottish Gaelic, making heritage accessible and engaging.
This page documents the creative process, the challenges of translating real-world traditions into gameplay, and the lessons learned about culture-first game design.
The Game
Waulking Simulator celebrates this rich cultural tradition through interactive play.
Featuring an innovative cloth controller that replicates the physical process, players can engage with waulking firsthand.
The game offers two authentic Scottish Gaelic waulking songs to accompany gameplay, with options for a relaxed practice mode or a fast-paced competition mode.
Waulking tweed is a traditional Scottish practice in which newly woven fabric is rhythmically beaten against a table to soften the fibres and strengthen the weave. This process not only made the cloth more weatherproof and suitable for garments but also served as a communal act of labour, primarily carried out by women in the Highlands and Islands.
Waulking was rarely done in silence—it was accompanied by Gaelic òrain luaidh (waulking songs), which often shared news, stories, and everyday experiences through music.
Waulking Simulator celebrates this rich cultural tradition through interactive play. Featuring an innovative cloth controller that replicates the physical process, players can engage with waulking firsthand. The game offers two authentic Scottish Gaelic waulking songs to accompany gameplay, with options for a relaxed practice mode or a fast-paced competition mode.
What is Waulking?
