Rather than teaching “the right” historical choices, the game challenges students to live through the social dynamics that make conflict possible. It’s a structured space where students get a first-hand taste of the trade-offs, constraints, and misunderstandings that mature social actors confront.
It's designed to foster critical thinking, empathy, and what we call "social maturity" – the ability to recognize systemic pressures, hold multiple perspectives, and make reflective decisions under uncertainty.
The Great Gambit is a hands-on, card-based simulation tool that brings the history of German society in the pre-World War I era to life. Through strategic decision-making, critical thinking and collaboration, students discover how peaceful societies can transform into ones where people end up killing each other - both between nations and within themselves.
What is The Great Gambit?
Each turn, the teacher presents a historical event that sets the context, while students, representing different social groups, respond by making decisions based on their goals and current situation. These decisions affect all groups and accumulate over time to determine the outcome.
The game offers two modes:
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Powder Keg (Contest Mode), where groups compete for influence
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Butterfly Effect (Cooperation Mode), where they must balance individual goals with the collective aim of preventing war
Here is a quick overview of The Great Gambit:
How to Play: Video Tutorials for Students and Teachers
How to Play?
In "The Great Gambit," students take on roles as distinct social groups in pre-WWI German society – Political Leaders, Colonial Administrators, Civilians, and Workers – making strategic decisions each turn to gain influence. The ultimate goal is to prevent the outbreak of World War I by creating a more stable society where all groups have a meaningful voice (influence) in shaping their future.
Audience
Upper secondary schools (ages 16–19) and universities
Relevant subjects
History, civics, social studies, philosophy, ethics | Political science, sociology, conflict studies, international relations, teacher education
Themes explored
Illustrating key dynamics from the late 19th to early 20th century — including nationalism, imperialism, colonialism, militarism, industrialism, scientific racism, class consciousness, causes of WWI, and great power competition. Also relevant for multi-perspective history and domestic-foreign policy dynamics.
Format
Used as a supplementary material that integrates into the teacher’s existing curriculum — like a film, documentary, or novel that expands and enriches the main instruction.
Classroom-friendly
No accounts. No internet needed. One laptop per group. Two 80 min lessons. Completely free for educational use.
We’ve mapped how The Great Gambit fits into most curricula in general terms.
But we’re also developing local versions which you may find here.
Curriculum Fit
Want to Use It? Start Here
The Great Gambit is a complete, fully playable simulation. It’s available in English, German, and Swedish, and designed to work offline, with no accounts or internet required. It’s completely free for educational use.
All we ask in return? Your honest feedback. It helps us make the game better for everyone.
The Great Gambit is not a commercial product. We are simply two enthusiasts – a game developer and a history teacher – who created this educational tool as a passion project. We believe high-quality educational resources should be accessible to everyone in the world, which is why we distribute this simulation completely free under a Creative Commons license.
Without corporate backing or institutional funding, we rely entirely on community support and are actively seeking funding to continue our development.
Our priorities include:
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finishing reflecting lessons to maximize educational impact
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providing technical support and training materials to teachers
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expanding to schools across Sweden and Europe with an ultimate goal of worldwide reach
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building a community of innovative educators,
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expanding language availability beyond English and Swedish.
If you find value in what we've created and would like to support our ongoing work, you can contribute through Patreon or Buy Me a Coffee – every contribution helps turn these goals into reality!
About The Project
I’m Zhenya, a game developer with a background in animation, VFX, 3D modeling, and programming. I’ve always believed that education doesn’t have to be a struggle if you can find the right way to engage with it. I studied at Brest State Technical University in Belarus, where I realized the power of “learning how to learn” – a mindset I’ve carried into everything I do.
I’m Anders, a history teacher in Sweden, and for years I’ve seen how tough it can be to get students excited about topics like World War I. Standard lectures and textbooks often miss the mark, especially when it comes to complex subjects. I knew there had to be a better way to engage students – something more immersive, something that made them think and feel like they were part of the historical process.
We believe education should do more than transfer knowledge – it should build understanding, develop critical thinking, and prepare students for active citizenship. Through tools like The Great Gambit, we're creating educational experiences that transform how students engage with history and understand society.
Our Story
It all started with a simple bowl of pasta around a bonfire. That’s how the two of us – Zhenya and Anders – met one evening in Gothenburg in September 2022. What began as a chance encounter quickly turned into long conversations about education, history, and how students connect (or don’t) with what they’re learning. From those talks, an idea was born: to find a better way to bring history to life in the classroom.
Contact Us
For Teachers
Have questions or need support? Join our Facebook Group for discussions with colleagues, technical help, or implementation ideas. This is the quickest way to get answers, as you'll benefit from both our team's expertise and the experience of other teachers.
Don't have Facebook? You can reach us directly:
Zhenya (Developer) - For game design, technical issues, tutorials, and game rules
Anders (History Teacher) - For curriculum integration and teaching strategies
We're happy to help through email, though responses may be a bit slower than in our Facebook community.
For Partenrships and Collaborations
greatgambitedu@gmail.com