Table 1 A summary of specific game and facilitation elements that can support targeted learning outcomes.

Random resource draws

Adaptive planning and risk management

(strategic & anticipatory competency: Wiek et al. 2016; Rieckmann 2018)

Players adjust their building or waste-removal strategies based on unpredictable tokens.

Uncertainty is discussed during debriefings.

Blind resource draws simulate unpredictable constraints, forcing rapid strategy adjustments and risk assessment without relying solely on short-term tactics.

Limited island board

Awareness of resource limits and long-term planning

(consequence analysis Wiek et al. 2016; Rieckmann 2018)

Participants discuss the diminishing space and plan actions to preserve available land.

The finite board visually represents limited resources, prompting players to consider long-term impacts of their expansion decisions.

Forced action every turn

Trade-off analysis and forward-thinking decision-making

(strategic decision-making & critical evaluation competency: Wiek et al. 2016; Brundiers et al. 2021)

Players debate immediate gains versus preserving resources for later rounds.

Group negotiations highlight opportunity cost considerations.

Mandating an action each turn forces continuous engagement, encouraging evaluation of immediate rewards against future benefits.

Increasing waste

Collective responsibility and shared stewardship

(collaborative and integrated problem-solving competency: Wiek et al. 2016; Rieckmann 2018)

Teams encourage waste removal or opt for strategic constructions.

Debrief discussions focus on the collective impact of waste buildup.

As waste accumulates, individual actions affect the whole board, underlining the need for cooperative management of shared resources.

House placement & renovation

Economic trade-off analysis and strategic planning

(integrated problem-solving & critical evaluation competency: Wiek et al. 2011a, 2016; Brundiers et al. 2021)

Teams modify their building strategies in response to resource shortages.

Discussions balance immediate point gains against long-term impacts.

Construction and renovation decisions illustrate the interplay between economic incentives and resource conservation, demonstrating broader impacts of local decisions.

Possibility of resource sharing

Emergent collaboration and negotiation

(Interpersonal and Collaborative Competency: Rieckmann 2018; Brundiers et al. 2021)

Spontaneous proposals for sharing resources occur.

Observations reveal token exchanges and shifts in group norms.

The organic emergence of resource sharing—without explicit instruction—highlights the development of cooperative problem-solving and peer negotiation skills.

Repeated cycles of play

Iterative learning and reflective adaptation

(Learning-to-Learn and Self-Awareness Competency: Wiek et al. 2016; Rieckmann 2018)

Teams incorporate lessons from previous rounds into new strategies.

Participants articulate how personal growth influences their evolving strategies over successive cycles.

Multiple rounds provide a safe environment for experimentation, allowing players to reflect on and adapt their strategies over time.

Immediate debriefing sessions

Critical reflection and evaluation

(critical reflection competency: Rieckmann 2018; Rounder sense of purpose – criticality)

Participants draw explicit connections between game events and broader challenges.

Facilitators observe increasingly detailed discussions.

Structured debriefings encourage players to critically assess their decisions and evaluate their performance, reinforcing a deeper understanding of sustainability challenges.