5 ideas for simulations
- A city planning simulator. Players design systems of transportation to account for growth and traffic issues.
- A game that simulates space exploration, but operating off a deck building mechanic like that of Dominion. I would incorporate discoveries that would dictate the strength of a hand at any given moment to keep it dynamic.
- Players work as a nurse at an understaffed hospital. They must prioritize patients with limited time and resources. The game would simulate the pressure and emotional strain of working in healthcare.
- An educational game in which players are challenged with repairing lines of code to earn points and prevent system failure.
- An air traffic control simulation where a player manages multiple flights at one time and avoids collision or delay.
This is a really strong set of ideas! There’s a clear focus on systems and pressure, which makes them feel grounded and meaningful rather than just conceptual. The nurse simulation especially stands out because it already has emotional weight and real-world relevance baked in, so it feels like it could naturally function as a “game for change” without much forcing.
I’d be curious to see how you differentiate the player experience across these, since a few of them rely on similar “manage multiple things under pressure” mechanics. That’s not a bad thing but pushing one or two of them further—like adding ethical tradeoffs in the hospital game or unexpected variables in the city planner—could make them feel more distinct and layered.