Polish government has added a video game to the educational reading list

Poland has become the first country to add a video game to their official educational reading list.

Video games industry rep and Interactive Software Federation Europe member Spidor, has announced the inclusion of the video game This War of Mine in the official reading list for high school students in Poland.

The video game will also be freely available to support sociology, ethics, philosophy and history education.

Dr Dominika Urbanska-Galanciak, head of Spidor, said:

“For the first time in history, a video game has been included on the recommended reading list for schools. We are pleased that the Ministry of Education and Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki support and recognise the role of the video games sector in culture, creativity, innovation and even education. This is a great example of how video games can support education by telling stories and raising important ethical issues.”

ISFE CEO Simon Little said:

“It is extremely exciting to see a European government recognise the value of video games to education in this way. Video games are an intrinsic part of 21st century society and bring enormous benefits especially when used appropriately in a school setting where they are proven to increase student engagement and learning outcomes, develop team-building, problem-solving and mental agility.”

This War of Mine was developed by 11 bit studios and was inspired by real life conflicts. In the game the player is forced to make choices based on morality in order to get food, medicine, and shelter. As with educational texts that provoke debates and offer difficult decisions, This War Of Mine takes the reader/player on a journey directed by their own moral compass. Harrowing, unsettling, and creatively and emotionally triggering, the game allows for each involved to reflect on how they would try to survive during a deeply troubling time.

The game has been highly praised by various sources including Washington Post, Die Welt, and The Guardian.

Find the game on Steam and see what difficult choices you would make as a civilian during war time.