In February 2025 I created a puzzle game created for schools and sixth forms to use as a teaching pack. The pack includes solo puzzles, a two-player puzzle, and a role playing game about engaging with your new MP. 

It was supported by the Electoral Commission as part of a voting initiatives project. Essentially, this game is an answer to the question: “how can we get voting information to young people in a non-boring way?”

Copies of 25 Days Until We Vote were sent to schools and sixth forms or handed directly to families. Feedback from players included:

• Over two thirds of participants enjoyed the games.
• Almost every participant reported that they learnt something new about registering to vote, polling stations, voting by post, or voter ID requirements. 
• Elections and politics are topics which lend themselves well to gamification.
• It is difficult to present complex voting systems through games, unless explaining the system is the core message. 
• A replayable card game about a semi-controversial political issue (House of Lords reform, media influence on elections) would probably be popular. 

This was a fascinating project, and it was extremely useful to play these puzzles and games with young people and hear their thoughts. 

I plan to develop at least two further games on democracy themes — I was paying attention to what people wanted next! These will be quick and accessible card games, preferably using between 54 and 120 cards. These might be games mimicking parliamentary process, or about uncovering dubious party donations. They might be games about building a campaign group, media influence, or reversing voter suppression.