Hosts: Kateryna Yeremieieva (Ukraine) and Michael Geithner (Germany)
Are you curious about how board games tackle complex historical topics like World War II? Join our workshop, where you'll explore the fascinating world of WWII-themed board games, their narratives, and their impact. Together, we’ll critically evaluate these games, answering questions like: Whose story do they tell? What emotions and ideas do they evoke? Are they suitable for education? And should we play games about such traumatic events at all?
In the first part of the workshop, you’ll collaborate in small groups to play and analyse a selected game using an expert evaluation checklist. Then, we’ll brainstorm together to imagine what an inclusive WWII board game could look like – designing its plot, roles, goals, and message. By the end, you'll gain a deeper understanding of board games as tools for education and commemoration. In the second part of the workshop, you will take on the role of game designers yourselves and work together to turn small snippets of historical events into games. In a 2.5 hour creative session, you will learn and practise key game design techniques and find creative ways to adapt stories into games.