Roots of Change: A game about Sustainability

During the spring 2025, two bachelor students in Computer Science at Malmö University, Kim Svedberg and Martin Elovsson, have been working on an educational game prototype, based on Mistra BIOPATH research and challenges for partner companies in integrating concerns for biodiversity in financial decision-making.

At the Mistra BIOPATH Spring programme meeting 2025, all partners had the opportunity to learn and see how they built a pilot game, Roots of Change, designed to designed to simulate the complexities of environmental management by immersing players in decision-making scenarios involving diverse stakeholder perspectives. With input from OX2, the game setting is an area where a wind power plant is planned but there are several concerns to take into account, experts and governing bodies to involve and communicate with the public for transparency and approval.

Kim Svedberg and Martin Elovsson, bachelor students Computer Science, Malmö University, developers of the game Roots of Change for Mistra BIOPATH.

“We have built the game around a branching narrative system, a dynamic dialogue with variable tracking and a time-sensitive day cycle where the game challenges players to balance environmental, social, and economic considerations, explains Kim Svedberg and Martin Elovsson and continues:  Influenced by titles such as Crusader Kings III, Yes, Your Grace, and Djuphavsjakten, the game integrates strategic decision-making with pedagogical goals inspired by James Paul Gee’s learning principles.”

 A playtesting study was conducted with university students using an online survey approach to evaluate user experience, self-perceived learning, and knowledge retention. Quantitative data were analysed using descriptive statistics and correlation analysis, while qualitative feedback underwent thematic and sentiment analysis. Future iterations aim to add additional scenarios and enhance visual feedback, further supporting the game’s role as a research-based pedagogical tool aligned with Mistra BIOPATH capacity building efforts in various formats.