In today’s digital age, mobile games have become a dominant form of entertainment, engaging billions worldwide. But can they also be used as a tool for conservation? This is the question we sought to answer with our study on a mobile game developed to support the critically endangered Kākāpō parrot in New Zealand.
Our randomized controlled trial (RCT) involved 200 participants, who played Kākāpō Run for seven days. We assessed their knowledge, attitudes, and behavior before and after their gameplay to determine if the game influenced their pro-environmental actions. The results were encouraging: participants showed improved knowledge about Kākāpō conservation and expressed greater support for actions like invasive predator control and responsible pet ownership. However, we didn’t see an increase in willingness to donate or actual donations.
This mixed outcome underscores the potential of mobile games to raise awareness and foster positive conservation behaviors, but also highlights the limitations of using games alone for fundraising purposes. Importantly, it emphasizes the need for a more research-driven approach when designing and evaluating conservation games to fully understand their impacts—both intended and unintended.
As the world of gaming continues to expand, there’s a real opportunity for mobile games to become a powerful communication tool for conservation. However, rigorous impact evaluation will be key to ensuring these digital platforms can contribute meaningfully to conservation efforts.
Want to dive deeper into our findings? Read the full paper here
Let’s explore how the future of gaming could help shape the future of conservation! ????????