Video games are one of the biggest entertainment industries in the world and have an enormous reach – but can they also be used to address political and societal issues? Since games allow a particularly strong form of immersion and can allow players to experience the perspective of others, they seem to lend themselves to the task. At the same time, most big game studios shun political questions due to the high risks involved in developing multi-million dollar games and leave such endeavors to the independent scene.

The exhibition “Games and Politics” by Goethe-Institut and Zentrum für Medienkunst Karlsruhe (ZKM) – which is showcased at Clujotronic – is presenting indie games that tackle topics related to surveillance, migration, marginalization, and more. Taking the exhibition as a starting point, we will discuss with experts from the games industry and civil society about the potential of video games as catalysts for social change.

The discussion will take place in English.