The Power of Joy in Gaming: Transforming Eco-Anxiety into Empowerment

According to Volha Kapitonava, managing director of Positive Impact Games, the gaming industry has the potential to play a significant role in shaping attitudes towards climate change. Over the past five years, there has been a notable increase in games that address environmental themes, such as Terra Nil, Alba: A Wildlife Adventure, and Beyond Blue. This trend is driven by a growing demand from players for stories that prioritize the well-being of the planet. The timing of this trend is crucial, as eco-anxiety has become a mainstream concern. A recent study published in The Lancet found that nearly half of young people believe that climate change affects their daily lives, and over half think that humanity is doomed if no action is taken. This sense of hopelessness can lead to feelings of powerlessness and disengagement. However, games can offer a unique solution by providing a safe and controlled environment for players to engage with environmental issues. Games have the ability to shape perception, motivation, and behavior, making them an effective tool for promoting environmental awareness. By allowing players to make meaningful decisions and experience the consequences of their actions, games can empower individuals to take action and feel capable of making a difference. A recent scientific report found that players who engage with environmental games are more likely to adopt pro-environmental behaviors in their daily lives. The key to this empowerment is joy. Games that offer a sense of joy and fulfillment can help players feel more connected to the environment and more motivated to take action. This is particularly important in a culture that often prioritizes fear and hopelessness. By providing a sense of hope and positivity, games can help players feel more inspired to take action and make a difference. Wholesome games, in particular, offer a unique approach to environmentalism. These games focus on cooperation, empathy, and regeneration, rather than competition and exploitation. By centering on these values, wholesome games can help players develop a sense of hope and motivation, rather than feeling overwhelmed by the scale of the environmental crisis. While games cannot solve the climate crisis on their own, they can play a significant role in shaping cultural narratives and promoting environmental awareness. Games can: - Normalize hope and regeneration as cultural narratives; - Provide emotional relief from the "we're doomed" cycle; - Offer safe experimentation and learning opportunities; - Make environmental action feel achievable through simulation and feedback; - Encourage long-term curiosity and engagement; - Strengthen a sense of collective responsibility and possibility; - Engage players in real-life eco-projects and initiatives. Examples of games that have made a positive impact include Space Ape Games, which raised over $120,000 for wildlife and humanitarian charities, and Fortnite, which raised $144 million for humanitarian relief efforts. The Playing for the Planet Awards recognizes and celebrates games that drive player eco-action and promote environmental awareness. However, games also have limitations. Not everyone has access to games, and socio-economic, geographic, and technological barriers can limit their impact. Games cannot enforce systemic change or prevent species loss on their own. Nevertheless, by delivering joy and creating a sense of hope and empowerment, games can inspire players to take action and make a difference. This is the mission of Positive Impact Games, which aims to create wholesome and uplifting games that inspire change and promote environmental awareness. The company's upcoming project, The Regreening, is a prime example of this approach, allowing players to grow plants, create living ecosystems, and make a positive impact on the environment. By building a bridge between the virtual and real worlds, games can inspire players to take action and make a difference, one small step at a time.