I created this 3D board game to help students and others understand Africa’s hidden development challenges in an engaging way. Many people learn about issues like inequality, corruption, or unstable systems through textbooks or lectures, which can feel boring or abstract. I wanted to design a hands-on, interactive product that combines learning, critical thinking, and fun, allowing players to experience how progress can be affected by hidden challenges—represented in the game as the “mysterious snake.”
In practice, the game is a colorful, 3D map of Africa with country spaces, dice, country cards, and special “snake” cards. Players roll the dice, move across countries, and draw cards that present development scenarios or hidden challenges. Positive actions help players move forward, while hidden problems may make them lose points or skip turns. The game is hands-on, visual, and discussion-based, encouraging players to reflect on real-world issues while actively playing.
So far, the game has been shared with my classmates, friends, and family, who have played it during school and at home. I have also demonstrated it in class, allowing other students to see how interactive learning can make complex topics more understandable. Feedback from these sessions has helped me spread awareness of Africa’s development issues beyond just telling people they now experience it through gameplay.
During testing, I noticed some cards were too complicated for younger players, so I simplified the language and added visual symbols on cards for easier understanding. I also added bonus cards that reward teamwork and critical thinking, making the game more engaging and reflective of real-world problem-solving.
To try the game, you need a board, dice, player tokens, and the country and special cards. Set up the board, choose your token, and roll the dice to move along the map of Africa. Draw cards based on where you land, follow the instructions, and earn or lose points depending on your choices. The game continues until someone reaches the winning points total, and then all players reflect on what they learned about development, hidden challenges, and solutions in Africa.
