A new article published in Geoscience Communication presents ClimarisQ, a serious game developed at IPSL to explore decision making under climate change. The study examines how gameplay helps participants reflect on trade offs, uncertainty, and the dynamics of the climate system.
Figure: ClimarisQ in-game screenshots
Climate change is often communicated through data, graphs, and projections. Serious games offer a different approach: learning by experimenting with decisions in a complex system. ClimarisQ was developed with this goal in mind as a web and mobile game where players must manage climate policies while facing extreme events and economic and social constraints.
The article published in Geoscience Communication investigates the potential of ClimarisQ as a tool for science communication and climate education. The analysis is based on a questionnaire completed by 77 players and feedback collected during several facilitated game sessions with different audiences.
Results show that players perceive the game as both scientifically credible and accessible. Rather than focusing on the memorization of climate facts, the game experience mainly supports reflection on trade offs and uncertainty in climate related decisions.
The authors conclude that serious games can complement traditional science communication tools, particularly when they are integrated into workshops or educational settings that include discussion and debriefing.
ClimarisQ is freely available online:
https://climarisq.ipsl.fr
Article reference:
Faranda, D., Taligrot, L., Yiou, P., & Caud, N. (2026). ClimarisQ: what can we learn from playing a game for climate education? Geoscience Communication. https://doi.org/10.5194/gc-9-115-2026