The free-to-play strategy game Beecarbonize challenges players do plan and choreograph climate policies and sustainable sociotechnical developments. Players can prioritize between industrial reforms, nature conservation or people initiatives. From the Steam page: “There are many ways to solve climate change and reduce pollution. But saving the planet is not an easy task. The more carbon emissions you produce the more extreme events you will have to deal with.”
Players have to balance the power-generating industry, social reforms, ecological policies and scientific endeavors, e.g. deciding whether to transition from fossil fuels as fast as possible or to focus on carbon capture technologies first. Game cards represent inventions, laws, social advancements, or industries – each designed on the basis of real-world climate science. In addition, partially randomized world events occur, forcing players to adapt their strategy. They gradually unlock new cards in the game encyclopedia and chart a path towards a new future.
The world of Beecarbonize reacts to the player’s actions. More emissions mean more floods or heatwaves, investing in nuclear power raises the risk of a nuclear incident, and so on. With each ‘run’, players learn more and might overcome environmental catastrophes, social unrest, and even avert the end of life on earth. Hardcore mode represents the ultimate challenge in Beecarbonize for experienced players, reflecting the severity of the global climate crisis as a shared challenge.