S3 E9: Solarpunk Gaming

Dive into the world of solarpunk games and ‘playing’ imagined, hopeful futures in this episode of Sci_Burst! We talk about solarpunk (and solarpunk-adjacent) video games, board games, RPGs, and more - including what already exists and what is soon to come… Tune in to also learn why gamers are particularly solarpunk ready and how we can make a sustainable future through play. Plus discover a whole bunch of radical games to add to your wishlists! Episode time stamps: 0:00 Introduction 6:24 Why gamers are solarpunk ready 11:08 Solarpunk video games 42:40 Solarpunk board games and RPGs 56:26 Other solarpunk ‘games’ 1:06:43 Good News Stories Want more? Here are some things that we spoke about in this episode that we recommend: -Imaginable: How to Create a Hopeful Future (2023) by Jane McGonigal -Gamification: https://www.education.gov.au/australian-curriculum/national-stem-education-resources-toolkit/i-want-know-about-stem-education/different-kinds-stem-education-initiatives/gamification -Blog post on solarpunk games: https://alxd.org/notes-towards-a-solarpunk-game-design-overview.html -Terra Nil (2023, video game): https://store.steampowered.com/app/1593030/Terra_Nil/ -Solarpunkification (2019, video game): https://girldebord.itch.io/solarpunkification -Loftia (upcoming, video game): https://store.steampowered.com/app/2320980/Loftia/ -Solarpunk (upcoming, video game): https://store.steampowered.com/app/1805110/Solarpunk/ -The Guardian of Nature (2025, video game): https://store.steampowered.com/app/2421950/The_Guardian_of_Nature/ -Future? No thanks! (upcoming, video game): https://store.steampowered.com/app/3861870/Future_No_Thanks/ -Crescent County (upcoming, video game): https://store.steampowered.com/app/2202650/Crescent_County/ -Bumpkin and Sprout (upcoming, video game): https://store.steampowered.com/app/2611600/Bumpkin_and_Sprout/ -Silkgrove (upcoming, video game): https://store.steampowered.com/app/3570350/Silkgrove/ -Life in Reterra (2024, board game) -Solar City (2020, board game) -Harmonies (2024, board game) -Fully Automated! (2024, RPG) -Solarpunk Futures (2022, RPG) -Solarpunk 2050 (2024, RPG) -Fly Softly (2021, RPG) -Beyond Design: The Game of Social Solution (2020) -LEGO Friends Good News Stories: https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/honey-making-stingless-bees-in-the-peruvian-amazon-become-the-first-insects-to-gain-legal-rights-180987937/ https://www.abc.net.au/news/2026-02-04/how-austin-appelbee-saved-his-family-in-miracle-ocean-rescue/106306586 https://www.abc.net.au/news/2026-02-02/teen-rescuer-blackmans-bay-beach-hobart/106292890