Games, role-play and immersive technology can open conversations that are hard to start in a traditional meeting. Creative Crowd, a games-for-impact consultancy in Skellefteå, Sweden, explored this at A Conversation on Games and Diplomacy at Gróska in Reykjavík, Iceland, as part of its work in the Interreg NPA-funded project InnoGS.
Why games work for difficult conversations
When people play a role, they step outside their usual position. This makes it easier to see a problem from another angle, question assumptions and look for common ground. Games also give a group a shared experience to talk about, which can lower the threshold for open discussion.
A Conversation on Games and Diplomacy in Reykjavík
The afternoon at Gróska hugmyndahús combined role-play, VR and XR experiences, board games and open discussions. The focus was on how games and immersive experiences can support dialogue about young people, communities and the future of the Arctic.
Connection to InnoGS
InnoGS (Innovation Through Gamification Solutions) is a three-year project from 2025 to 2028, funded by the Interreg Northern Periphery and Arctic programme. It explores game-based approaches to regional development in rural and remote communities, with a focus on young people and underrepresented groups.
Next steps
Creative Crowd will continue to explore how games and immersive technologies can support dialogue, particularly in Arctic and rural communities.
