How do you get children to laugh, learn, and reflect on climate change—without turning the message into a lecture?

Back in 2009, ahead of the COP15 climate conference in Copenhagen, Danmarks Radio tasked me with creating an interactive game that could bring climate issues to life for a young audience. The result was Klimakatastrofen — a humorous, chaotic, and deliberately over-the-top game where comedy becomes the doorway to insight.

A greedy businessman, rising seas, and three very bad ideas:

Players step into the shoes of Mr. Fusentasth, an opportunistic businessman who has bought real estate high in the mountains. His brilliant plan? Wait for the lowlands to flood so his investment skyrockets in value. But the sea levels aren’t rising fast enough for his liking… so he decides to give nature a little “help.” The game consists of three minigames, each themed around triggering a climate catastrophe—exaggerated, slapstick, and deliberately absurd.
The humour keeps children engaged, while the underlying message remains clear: human actions have consequences, often far beyond what we intend.

A hidden lesson inside the chaos

If players push the disasters too far, an easter egg triggers: Mr. Fusentasth floods the entire world and ends up in the belly of a shark. It’s a playful but sharp reminder that short-term greed always comes back to bite you.

Laugh, then think

Klimakatastrofen stands as an example of how playful design, narrative framing, and strong collaboration can turn a serious topic into an engaging and memorable experience — without losing the message.

Skills applied :

• Game Design: shaping the narrative, mechanics, humour, and learning intention.
• Client Comnunication: aligning gameplay, tone, and educational goals with DR.
• Programming: building the full experience from scratch.
• Writing: Creating a compelling narratives that guide and engage users.
• Project Management: coordinating external specialists to deliver on time.

The result was a game that balanced entertainment with awareness, and succeeded in reaching children with an issue often considered too abstract or too overwhelming.

Want to create something like this? Let’s build it together.

If this kind of playful learning experience sparks an idea for your own project, let’s connect. I love helping organisations turn ambitious concepts into interactive experiences that both entertain and teach.