GENEVA/NEW YORK—The “Stop Disasters Game,” a free educational tool developed by the UN Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR), is cementing its position as a leading global learning resource for community resilience, with the launch of new translations bringing its total language count to eleven.
The simulation game allows players to assume the role of a community planner with a limited budget and time, tasked with implementing critical infrastructure, preparedness, and protection measures against hazards like floods, earthquakes, and wildfires. By making risk-informed decisions, players learn firsthand how smart planning is the key to reducing disaster risk and saving lives.
New Translations Mark Global Expansion
The game’s international accessibility was recently boosted with the release of three new language versions:
• Japanese Unveiled during the final week of the prestigious Expo 2025 Osaka, where it was a popular attraction at the UN Pavilion.
• Croatian and Romanian both versions were released to coincide with the International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction on October 13.
The “Stop Disasters Game” is now playable in 11 languages, including Chinese, Croatian, English, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Portuguese, Romanian, Russian, and Spanish.
Impact Felt from Classrooms to COP 30
The gamified learning approach is already making a tangible impact in classrooms. In Barcarena, Brazil, the Portuguese version of the game has been integrated into school curricula, allowing students to explore disaster prevention interactively.
Waldeci Batista Lisboa Junior, a Teacher of Digital and Technological Culture, praised the initiative, stating, “By promoting the Stop Disasters Game in the classroom, we can see that our students, in an interactive and gamified way, learn how to deal with the pressing challenges of our time.” The local efforts will culminate with the game being featured at the Barcarena booth during the upcoming COP 30 climate conference in Belém, Brazil, in 2025.
Versatile Tool for Education and Practice
The game is utilized across various settings to bridge the gap between theory and practice:
• Professional Training: Facilitators use the simulation to illustrate how decisions regarding planning and investment affect real-world disaster outcomes.
• Academic Settings: Universities are incorporating the game into their disaster risk management curricula.
• Community Planning: Local planners and residents are playing together to collaboratively explore ways to enhance neighborhood safety.
Furthermore, the game is now fully supported on mobile phones and tablets, and can be played directly in browsers or installed for offline access. This new accessibility ensures the resource can be easily deployed in classrooms, workshops, or community events globally, establishing it as a truly ubiquitous platform for risk education.