5 Online Games That

Teach Kids the Art of

Persuasion
If theres one thing that games can teach really well, its
systems thinking. Getting good at a game like Portal, for
instance, means learning its physics engine. When the games
over, its only natural to draw comparisons between how
things move, fall, and interact in the game and physical
worlds. Similarly, building nations in Civilization exposes
players to complex political, social and cultural relationships
they can see reflected in global history. These examples are,
admittedly, a bit old hat. Sure games can teach gravity or
supply and demand, but can they show us how to build a good
argument?
The following five games do just that by modeling the work of
argumentation. Best of all, they approach the subject critically,
showing the myriad uses for persuasion and how its always
political.

1. Quandary
Set on a colony somewhere out in space, Quandary tasks the
player with settling disputes and solving problems by building
sound arguments for one side or the other. Players tackle
tough issues, sort fact from opinion, gather support, and try to

make the best decision for the community even though theres
no clear right or wrong answer.

2. Citizen Science
Good argumentation isnt just important to the humanities.
Citizen Science demonstrates how effective persuasive skills
help scientists better inform policy and make positive change
in the world. Much like Quandary, players must gather,
evaluate, and use evidence to sway public opinion to the best
position.

3. Argument Wars
The stakes are high in Argument Wars. Players engage in
debate-style combat over real Supreme Court cases. Like other
games on this list, theres a healthy focus on argumentative
structure and sound support, but players must align their
arguments with the U.S. Constitution. After each case, players
get to dig into the cases history, finding out how events
actually played out.

4. The Republia Times

The Republia Times might be the most stripped down game
on this list, but that doesnt mean it lacks punch. It only takes
10 minutes to play and has a super simple concept - players
play the role of an editor in charge of curating a newspapers
front page. Yet it does a fantastic job of communicating the
political nature of any given system. And by focusing on
editing rather than writing, players see how persuasion takes
different forms.

5. Papers, Please
A follow-up of sorts to The Republia Times, Papers, Please
puts players in the shoes of an immigration officer manning
the border of a fictional communist country. To decide who is
allowed in, players must build evidential arguments. They
evaluate peoples documents, question them, and try to find
the evidence needed to justify denial or admittance. Its a
stressful, grim experience full of heart wrenching decisions
that show how ethics and morals are often at odds.