Cat Park
Explore a neo-noir city in this online game teaching players about disinformation. What’s really happening at the luxurious Cat Park? Find out!
Cat Park is a free, online visual novel that teaches players about common tactics and techniques of online manipulation. We based the design on ‘active inoculation theory’, so that the game works as a effective intervention; playing the game builds cognitive resistance against common disinformation techniques.
The game engine is custom made, allowing us to bring a colourful neo-noir city to the web, including a cast of very odd characters and a number of plot-twists. The game combines hand drawn animations, atmospheric audio and fun minigames in a light weight, mobile first package that runs on any modern browser. A user friendly backend makes it possible to craft multiple story lines and game variations.
In a survey analysis of the game’s efficacy conducted by the University of Cambridge researchers found that players are 19% more likely to spot disinformation and 15% less likely to share it.
Cat Park won “Best Civics Game” in the Games For Change 2023 Awards.
We designed and develop Cat Park in collaboration with Tilt and Jordi Verdult. The amazing graphics and animations were made by Felicia Kiessling. The impeccable sounds were created by Corey Taylor.
Cat Park was funded by the U.S. Department of State’s Global Engagement Center (GEC) and U.S. Embassy The Hague.