Tools for adaptive governance for complex social-ecological systems: A review of role-playing-games as serious games at the community-policy interface

Abstract

Serious games are increasingly used in diverse contexts including agriculture, climate change, environmental management, health and education to engage individuals, communities, and decision-makers with complex resource problems. This review examines multiple dimensions of role-playing serious games in the field of natural resource management. Theoretical, and conceptual insights, and lessons for practice are applied to a complex socio-economic, and environmental context in Aotearoa-New Zealand. Fifty-two articles from the global literature on the role-playing game (RPG) subset of serious games for environmental engagement and decision-making are analysed. First, we explore three theoretical and conceptual elements of games: principles of RPGs, functions of games, and (practical) game characteristics. We probe in more detail particular game elements, including game design, adherence to reality, and the integration of participatory and action research elements. These dimensions of RPGs are then analysed, and discussed. Particular attention is paid to the value and application of RPGs to address complex problems with interacting environmental, social, cultural and economic challenges, and the extent to which they can inform adaptive governance solutions. Our findings show that RPGs can be a valuable tool at different levels; however, we also identify important gaps in the current state of knowledge, in particular related to bridging community- and higher-level decision-making scales through RPGs.