The Upstream-Downstream Game
The game centres on climate-related information in decision-making at the community level, and how neighbouring upstream and downstream communities can work together to manage consequences of flood, drought and deforestation.
Upstream Downstream is an interactive serious game developed to help participants explore the complex relationships between natural resource management, environmental stewardship, and community resilience. Originally conceptualized by the Red Cross Climate Centre and later redesigned by Antidote Games, the game places players in the roles of neighboring farmers competing to build prosperous farms while managing shared water resources. Through a combination of investment decisions, environmental management, and resource allocation, participants experience how individual actions can influence the wellbeing of others within a shared landscape.
As players develop their farms, they must balance short-term economic gains against long-term environmental risks. Decisions such as clearing trees for income, investing in infrastructure, or conserving natural resources directly affect vulnerability to floods and droughts. Because water flows from upstream to downstream farms, participants quickly discover how actions taken by one farmer can create opportunities or challenges for others, highlighting the interconnected nature of environmental systems and community resilience.
The game is designed to stimulate discussion about climate adaptation, disaster risk reduction, sustainable development, and collective action. By experiencing the consequences of both cooperation and competition, players gain practical insights into how resource management decisions shape outcomes for individuals and communities. The game’s engaging format makes it a valuable learning tool for humanitarian practitioners, government officials, community leaders, students, and others interested in understanding the human dimensions of climate and environmental risk.
Video of the game, Video of the game, Video of the game in Spanish
http://vimeo.com/46378989, http://vimeo.com/46378989, http://vimeo.com/45097866