Examples to try yourself

Try some of the games below and tell us which you choose and what you think. Did you learn something new? Did they make you consider an issue in a different way? Was there a clear message and were they effective in delivering that message?

Be aware that some of the games in this list cover mature or difficult themes.

• An extensive list from the Games For Change organisation
• Great list of games for change titles from Molleindustria

The following are some selected titles playable for free on mobile or in a web browser.

• Every day the same dream –Precarious models and challenges of capitalist modes of labour
• Democratic Socialism Simulator –Can you redistribute power and wealth while addressing the climate crisis?
• Bioharmonious – Save two dying planets.
• Climate defence – A downloadable tower defence phone game where the player fights global warming.
• Unmanned a game by Molleindustria – Modern war machines and war through simulation/augmentation
• Datak – A game inspired by investigative journalism into how personal data is used.
• The McDonald’s Videogame – Side effects of our food production
• Deep Blue Dump A phone game about protecting a baby turtle from ocean plastics.
• Depression Quest – An interactive fiction game about living with depression.
• Disaster Detector – iOS game where the player protects the town of Smithsonville from disaster.
• Gamer Girl – A dating simulator style game highlighting the sexism and harassment faced by women online and in class.
• Oiligarchy – Playable commentary on the oil industry.
• Quandry – Maintain your ethical compass throughout the development of a futuristic colony.
• September 12th: A Toy World – Downloadable pc game which uses the language of videogames to convey ‘violence begets more violence’.
• Stop Disasters – Disaster prevention awareness
• World Rescue – Mobile game inspired by the UN’s sustainable development goals.

Many games have a socio-political theme, you may well have played some already, feel free to play any game that addresses a serious topic for this exercise.

Share your thoughts in the comments section below.