Dante's Inferno: The Board Game

For my thesis, I decided to recreate the grim world of Dante's Inferno in a playable board game. Dante Alighieri’s novelization of the journey from purgatory to heaven follows the main character as he struggles through the nine layers of hell. Similarly, my project of Dante’s Inferno: The Board Game allows players to travel through the different layers of hell, defeating monsters and collecting items along the way. Players choose their own characters, and pick their own path through the labyrinth game board. The black and white illustrations are inspired by linocuts and etchings, as well as gothic architecture. The goal of this thesis is to visually expand the world created by Dante as well as show how illustration can be incorporated into various projects.

Bio

Cody Wallinga is an illustrator based in Michigan. His work revolves around myths, religion and philosophy. Ancient Greek mythology and the Italian Renaissance have been at the center of his art for the last couple years. In order to achieve an older, gothic aesthetic, his work is done in bold black and white lines.