Water Games

Water Games is a joint initiative of the International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis (IIASA) and the Centre for Systems Solutions to celebrate the World Water Day.

We have collected and described a number of different games addressing different water challenges. These games differ with respect to time required to play, a number of participants, type (computer, board, or role-play).

We hope that you find a game that you can use and organize a session for other participants that you invite.

UN Water 22 March World Water Day logo
Centre for Systems Solutions
International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis
UN Water 22 March World Water Day logo

World Water Day

Water Games is a joint initiative of the International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis (IIASA) and the Centre for Systems Solutions to celebrate the World Water Day.

We have collected and described a number of different games addressing different water challenges. These games differ with respect to time required to play, a number of participants, type (computer, board, or role-play). We hope that you find a game that you can use and organize a session for other participants that you invite.

We would be delighted to hear from you more about your experiences - please share with us descriptions and pictures from your event!

Water games

Games4Sustainability

Climate and Gender game

Gender. Simulation. About 30-60 minutes. Dialogue on the different vulnerabilities of women and men facing climate variability and change. Decision-making training.
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Florima

Florima

Disaster management. Board game. 30-60 minutes. Insight into the tensions that play a role in flood risk management by having them experience some of those tensions.
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Floodwise

Flood-Wise

Water control. 1-2 hours.Flood- Wise is a simulation game about the transboundary flood risk. Issues that may arise if transboundary flood risks need to be managed.
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Extreme events

Extreme Event Game: Coastal City

Disaster management. 1-2 hours. In Extreme Event Game players must work together to help their neighbors stay safe and send resources where they are needed most.
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Dwelling near the ditch

Dwelling near the ditch

Urban waste management. 2 hours and more. Urban waste management and its impact on water control. Education in urban waste management in context of climate change.
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Dissolving disasters

Dissolving Disasters

Disaster risk.1-2 hours. Become donors or subsistence farmers and face changing risks. Decision making under uncertainty, role of donors in humanitarian work.
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Games4Sustainability

Disarming Disasters

Disaster risk. Simulation. 1-2 hours. Take on a role of a subsistence farmer who has to choose to prepare for flood or for drought. The game is a great tool for training.
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Before the storm

Before the Storm

Disaster management. 1-2 hours. Participants, split up into groups, are given a series of weather forecasts laid out at 10 days, 48 hours, and 12-hour intervals.
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aqua republica

Aqua Republica

Climate policy. 1-2 hours. The world mechanics are explained via the “Breaking News” which are displayed to the player. Promoting sustainable resources management.
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We would be delighted to hear from you more about your experiences - please share with us descriptions and pictures from your event! We can publish it on our blog like the posts below!

Posts about water games

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International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis (IIASA) and the Centre for Systems Solutions promote and apply the systems approach, in research and policy, in order to understand and solve complex problems at different scales. Serious games are innovative, participatory tools that can support finding solutions for important water problems. They can also support education on water issues in an engaging and accessible way.