A collaborative adaptation game for promoting climate action: Minions of Disruptions™

Abstract

With the onset of climate change, adaptive action must occur at all scales, including locally, placing increasing responsibility on the public. Effective communication strategies are essential, and adaptation games have shown potential in fostering social learning and bridging the knowledge–action gap. However, few research efforts so far give voice to participants that engage with collaborative games in organisational and community settings. This paper presents a novel approach to studying designer–participant interactions in adaptation games, diverging from traditional learning-focused frameworks. Specifically, it examines Minions of Disruptions™ (MoD), a collaborative tabletop board game, through the lens of how participant perception aligns with the game's design intentions as described by the game designers and facilitators. Through focus group interviews with designers and facilitators, 10 core design intentions were identified and compared with responses from post-game surveys of participants from 2019–2022. Key insights reveal that collaboration and team building are highly effective frames for climate adaptation. However, some design elements, such as time pressure, can hinder discussion, suggesting a need to balance objectives. The method adopted manages to avoid traditional expert-to-public analysis structures and places emphasis on the importance of iterative design based on participant insights. This approach provides valuable guidance for future adaptation game designs, demonstrating that games can effectively engage diverse groups and support local adaptation efforts by creating a sense of belonging and collective purpose.