FutureGuessr is a compelling example of an ecogame that operates primarily as a tool for visual climate communication. Launched in June 2025, it takes inspiration from the popular GeoGuessr format but shifts the focus from geographical curiosity to climate awareness. FutureGuessr uses AI to generate images of familiar, localized landscapes (like Germany or Chamonix) as they might appear in 2100 (e.g., drought, dry riverbeds). This can create a powerful, localized, and emotionally resonant connection to a distant future, making climate impacts tangible.
Players guess the location of a climate-affected landscape. Information is revealed about climate consequences and potential scenarios. The act of engagement and guessing transforms passive viewing of data into active exploration of future scenarios, increasing retention. Information revealed includes the specific consequences of climate change and contrasts between no-action vs. potential-action scenarios. Connects visual impact directly to scientific outcomes and empowers players by illustrating that action leads to different outcomes.
FutureGuessr is developed in partnership with Résau Action Climat, a network of NGOs. This lends credibility and purpose to the game, ensuring the information is tied to non-profit climate advocacy. The game’s intent is to make climate change data visible through engaging play.
Successful climate communication often involves images that show climate impacts, especially when they feature localized effects. By using bespoke AI to combine maps, photographs, and IPCC data to render recognizable places like Chamonix or Antarctica in 2100, FutureGuessr maximizes this impact. The ability to see a personal, familiar landscape ravaged by drought or extreme weather is intended to be a powerful psychological driver for building support for climate action, as people are moved by the fate of places they care about.
However, as the game relies on AI routines, the medium itself carries an environmental cost. Apart from video, the use of a bespoke AI model for image generation is cited as one of the most energy intensive tasks in computing.
To summarize, FutureGuessr successfully demonstrates the value of merging game mechanics (like GeoGuessr) with scientific visual data to raise awareness of the climate emergency. It moves beyond mere facts to create an engaging localized experience. However, its production method serves as a critical footnote that needs to be offset against potential benefits.