A narrative game about tolerance, conflicts and social coexistence
Welcome to Ilios, the most progressive and tolerant city in the world - at least at first glance. In the year 2037, Ilios is conducting a unique experiment: The Tolerance Score. Those who act tolerantly, respectfully and inclusively gain prestige. But behind the shiny façade lurk conflicts and the question: how fair and sustainable is such a system really?
In The Ilios Experiment, players take on the role of a newcomer to Ilios. They explore the city, make decisions and interact with residents who have their own opinions, conflicts and challenges. The game not only encourages players to reflect on their own behaviour, but also poses key questions about living together in a democratic society.
Linking external conflicts in the game world with the character's inner reflections
A special feature of the game is the ‘inner voice’ that accompanies the game character. It provides feedback, asks critical questions and encourages reflection processes without anticipating decisions. This inner voice was originally inspired by the so-called monkey mind, which symbolises the inner thoughts that can confront us with doubts, fears or distractions. In this specific case, the inner voice embodies different perspectives and thought patterns that are associated with tolerance:
- Impulsiveness: ‘Why be tolerant at all if others are not?’
- Need for harmony: ‘Can't I just avoid the conflict?’
- Logic: ‘Is tolerance really justified in this situation?
- Empathy: ‘How would I feel in their shoes?’
These voices are integrated directly into the gameplay by appearing as inner reflections and helping or challenging players to make conscious decisions. They convey that tolerance is not always easy, but a constant inner negotiation process.
Mini games as metaphors for emotional regulation
Short mini-games within the dialogues loosen them up and at the same time act as visual and game mechanic metaphors for emotional regulation. They scale in difficulty based on the stress level of the game character. Two core mechanics take centre stage:
- Defence game (‘Stand up for myself’): After selecting an answer option, the players symbolically defend it. They do this by defending against attacks on this answer by skilfully moving their shield. If they fail, an impulsive ‘short-circuit reaction’ is triggered in response.
- Breathing game (‘mindfulness’): In stressful moments, players have to regain their inner calm before making a decision by mastering a timing game. If they succeed, all response options are unlocked. Otherwise, decision-making options are restricted.
These playful challenges make it clear that tolerance is not just a rational decision, but also an emotional and cognitive challenge.
