Play Illuminate, the Climate change simulation game

Wednesday, January 20, 2021

Parnership logos for the gameIlluminate is an educational simulation game where you learn about the impacts of climate change and explore ways to reduce greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) and respond to climate risks. 

The Games Institute, in partnership with the Interdisciplinary Centre on Climate Change (IC3) at the University of Waterloo and an interdisciplinary team of students, staff and faculty from across campus, developed Illuminate.

From the Games Institute, Adam Leung is the Designer and Programmer, Tina Chan is the Artist and Narrator, and Pamela Maria Schmidt and Lillian A. Black are the Development Team.

The collaborators designed Illuminate to help players understand the science, the risks, and (most importantly) the solutions to climate change. Illuminate aims to teach players about the impacts of climate change while inspiring hope and motivating Canadians to take action and find effective solutions that will help shape our future.

Game screen shot of coastal community task


Funding for the development of this game was provided by the University of Waterloo’s Interdisciplinary Centre on Climate Change (IC3) and the Games Institute. 

  • Designer and Programmer: Adam Leung
  • Artist and Narrator: Tina Chan
  • Producers: Simon Glauser and Natalie Heldsinger, Interdisciplinary Centre on Climate Change (IC3), University of Waterloo
  • Development Team: Pamela Maria Schmidt and Lillian A. Black, Games Institute, University of Waterloo
  • Scientific Advisory Committee from the University of Waterloo: Daniel Scott, Juan Moreno-Cruz, Merrin Macrae, Alexandra Lesnikowski, Andrea Minano