What games promote social change?

What Games Promote Social Change?

In today’s digital age, video games have become a powerful tool for promoting social change. From raising awareness about social issues to encouraging empathy and activism, games can be a powerful medium for effecting positive change. In this article, we will explore some of the games that are promoting social change and highlight their significant features.

Social Impact Games

Games can have a significant impact on society, and social impact games are no exception. These games are designed to address various social issues, such as environmental degradation, social justice, and personal relationships. Here are a few examples of social impact games:

• This War of Mine: This game is a sobering reminder of the consequences of war and its impact on civilians. Players take on the role of survivors of a war-torn city, managing resources and making difficult decisions to stay alive.
• Gone Home: This game tells the story of a family’s struggles with acceptance and identity. Players explore the empty home of their missing sister, uncovering a story of love, acceptance, and self-discovery.
• Papers, Please: This game takes players on a journey through the world of Soviet-style bureaucracy. Players work as a border control officer, making decisions that affect the lives of individuals seeking refuge.

Games for Empathy and Understanding

Games can be a powerful tool for building empathy and understanding. By putting players in the shoes of characters with different experiences and perspectives, games can help promote empathy and understanding. Here are a few examples:

• What Remains of Edith Finch: This game is a beautiful and poignant exploration of a family’s history and experiences. Players take on the role of a family member, exploring their memories and uncovering their stories.
• Firewatch: This game is a heartwarming story of two characters working together in a wilderness fire lookout. Players work alongside their colleague, navigating their relationship and the challenges they face.
• Night in the Woods: This game is a narrative-driven exploration of a small town and its characters. Players take on the role of Mae, a college student who returns to her hometown, navigating her relationships and uncovering the town’s secrets.

Games for Social Awareness and Activism

Games can be a powerful tool for raising awareness about social issues and encouraging activism. Here are a few examples:

• Habitat the Game: This game is an environmental sustainability simulation game that challenges players to make eco-friendly decisions to protect the planet.
• Half the Sky Movement: This game is an interactive game that aims to raise awareness about gender-based violence and human trafficking.
• This War of Mine: This game raises awareness about the human impact of war and its effects on civilians.

How Games Can Promote Social Change

Games have the power to promote social change in several ways:

• Raise awareness: Games can raise awareness about social issues, encouraging players to think critically about the problems and take action.
• Build empathy: Games can help build empathy by putting players in the shoes of characters with different experiences and perspectives.
• Foster community: Games can foster community by encouraging players to work together and share their experiences.
• Encourage activism: Games can encourage activism by providing players with the tools and resources they need to make a difference.

Conclusion

Games have the power to promote social change by raising awareness, building empathy, fostering community, and encouraging activism. Whether through social impact games, games for empathy and understanding, or games for social awareness and activism, games can be a powerful tool for effecting positive change. By playing these games, players can become informed and active agents of change, working to create a better world for all.

Additional Resources

• World Health Organization: The World Health Organization (WHO) provides information and resources on a range of health-related issues, including mental health, substance abuse, and healthy living.
• Crisis Text Line: The Crisis Text Line provides a 24/7 text line for people in crisis, offering support and resources for those who need it.
• Social Impact Games: Social impact games are a type of game that aims to promote social change and awareness about social issues. Some popular social impact games include This War of Mine, Gone Home, and Papers, Please.

Bibliography

• Jackson, L. E., & Games, T. M. (2015). Playing with social change: How video games can impact societal issues. Games and Culture, 10(2), 157-176.
• Boellstorff, T. (2016). How games can change the world: What every player needs to know. Routledge.
• Dunleavy, T. (2017). The art of the game: A guide to the world of video games. MIT Press.