Critical Games Lab
Let’s investigate the hidden layers of green games.
- What do they show and what do they hide about the world?
- How the mechanics and narratives shape each other?
- Can they be used as teaching, research, art, activism?
One game at a time, full game-play with a facilitator, in-depth discussion, no mercy and no forbidden questions.
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Is your green game a capitalistic propaganda?
upcoming events
Critical Games Lab #3
–> EARTH RISING
DATE • 15 July 2026
PLACE • Nausika, Kraków
SIGN-UPS • contact the organizers personally
THE GAME
This time we will play the EARTH RISING – a great board game designed by Laurie Blake from Stop Drop and Roll studio, read more:
https://www.sdrgames.studio/pages/earth-rising
We strongly recommend buying your own copy of the game, it’s definitely worth it, we already have!
FACILITATION
Dawid Rostankowski
LANGUAGE
The game we have is in English, during the event we can freely mix English and Polish, depending on who comes to play.
PRACTICALITIES
past events
Critical Games Lab #1
–> DAYBREAK
DATE • 22 June 2026
PLACE • Nausika, Kraków
SIGN-UPS • contact the organizers personally
THE GAME
Game on the table this day will be DAYBREAK – an amazing board game created by Matt Leacock and Matteo Menapace, read more:
We strongly recommend buying your own copy of the game, it’s definitely worth it, we already have!
FACILITATION
Zbigniew Janczukowicz
LANGUAGE
The game we have is in English, during the event we can freely mix English and Polish, depending on who comes to play.
PRACTICALITIES
The event is free of costs, hosted by Nausika Foundation. Basic snacks and variety of non-alco drinks will be provided in the place. You can bring more snacks if you like, and quality tea is always welcome here.
Critical Games Lab #2
–> DZIKIE SĄSIEDZTWO
DATE • 2 July 2026, 17:30 – 20:00
PLACE • Community Garden at UJ Campus, Kraków (link on map)
SIGN-UPS • contact the organizers personally
THE GAME
Dzikie sąsiedztwo. Gra o tworzeniu wielogatunkowej wspólnoty
Dawid Rostankowski, Arash Akhshik, Joanna Tusznio
Świat się zmienia. Istoty, które spokojnie zamieszkiwały swoje tereny, zorientowały się, że z dnia na dzień wokół nich wyrosło miasto. A jednak wśród bloków i wieżowców, zapomniana przez urzędników i deweloperów, ostała się mała przestrzeń, gdzie wśród ruin byłej fabryki, kwitnie dzika przyroda. Więcej-niż-ludzka wspólnota pokochała to miejsce, tym bardziej, że wszystkie inne okoliczne tereny zielone zostały zabudowane. Niestety, okazało się, że to nie koniec problemów. Nadchodzi kryzys i lokalna wspólnota potrzebuje wszystkich społeczności zamieszkujących to miejsce, aby przetrwać.
W trakcie gry staniesz się jedną z istot, która zamieszkuje to miejsce. Ptaki, Owady, Gleba i Organizmy Glebowe, Ludzie, Rośliny, Inne Ssaki, Płazy i Gady. Wybierzesz swoją społeczność, nową rodzinę, którą będziesz reprezentować. Przetrwanie jest waszym najważniejszym celem, dlatego czasami przyjdzie Ci rywalizować z innymi o zasoby, czasami ważniejsze będzie współpracować z innymi społecznościami.
Dzikie sąsiedztwo to gra o tworzeniu wspólnej opowieści, gdzie konflikt jest nieunikniony, a uczestnicy mierzą się z trudnymi wyborami wspólnie mierząc się z kryzysem.
FACILITATION
Dawid Rostankowski
LANGUAGE
Polish or English, depending who joins the game 🙂
PRACTICALITIES
tba
about the format
FOR WHOM?
We meet among educators, academics, students, activists, trainers and game designers – people with experience in abstract models and interest in creative teaching methods.
We’re not trying to teach you anything directly through the game, the goal is to initiate smart discussion and learn from each other among professionals.
THE EVENTS
We will organize multiple events in Kraków, each consisting of a full play of a chosen game and in-depth critical discussion about its roots, interpretations and hidden narratives.
The discussions will be partly recorded in a shared document to
and perhaps launch a more formalized research in the future.
Each event should include the following roles:
- Facilitator – prepares the game, leads the players through the experience, minimizes the time needed to read the rules.
- Host – takes care of the venue, logistics and sign-ups.
- Scribe – writes and edits the research document during the discussion.
BACKGROUND
The event is connected to Climate Wizards community initiated by Nausika, gathering international educators and activists interested in serious games as learning tools for climate, sustainability and social justice.
We have performed deep research on games countless times during international training courses, now we want to initiate a series of local events in Kraków and check where this adventure might lead.
Yes, we are open to collaboration with the future CRITICAL GAMES LAB events!
