In 2022, Now Play This explored the relationship between game design and democracy. We were back in physical space at Somerset House 8-10th April with an exhibition and events programme, and we ran a week-long design camp culminating at the festival.

Exhibition

There was a playable exhibition of games examining democracy in the New Wing at Somerset House, and some of the games are playable online.

A Rainbow For Amala

The Other Way Works

Chorus Effect

Joanna Bailie, Begüm Erciyas, Rob Ochshorn

Civil Rights & Freedom Rights

Hwa Young Jung

co-open

lowpolis

DATA/POINTS: Political Party

We Throw Switches & Robin Baumgarten

Flag For Removal

Caroline Sinders

GerryMander

GameTheory

How Many Chairs to Build The Future?

Hamish MacPherson

MIND PSYCHOMETRY

Juniper-C

Orwell’s Animal Farm

Nerial

Out For Delivery

Heart Street

Playing Democracy

Ling Tan

Pourparlers

MechBird

Question Project

Mil M2

Rules & Roberts

Molleindustria

Sculpture Playground

Leap Then Look

Sieze the Power

Behrooz 'Bez' Shahriari and Tiz Creel

Station

Steve Dee

Statues

Space Backyard

The Best Thing

PlayReactive

The Redistricting Game

Chris Swain, Peggy Weil, Jeremy Bernstein

We Dwell in Possibility

Robert Yang & Eleanor Davis

We Should Totally Stab Caesar!

Hannah Raymond-Cox

Design Camp

Running for six days before the festival, our design camp explored how we can make games that touch upon democratic issues – and how game-design can be an accessible, collaborative process. It was open to those interested in both digital and physical game design, bringing together people with varied levels of experience.

During the festival, you were able to visit the design camp alongside the exhibition, playtesting games that had been created by camp participants and trying your hand at making your very own games.

 

Downpour

v buckenham

Telepresence Robots

Ross Atkin / The Crafty Robot

Events

Our events programme ran throughout the festival including conversations, workshops and live social games. Head over to our dedicated events page to see the schedule.