A team of students from Uzhhorod National University has created a board game about Ukraine’s environment—featuring villains, conspiracies, and real-life disasters
Imagine Ukraine on the brink of an environmental collapse. The Carpathians are threatened by landslides, the Black Sea is suffering from oil spills, Polissya is engulfed in peat fires, and cities are shrouded in smog. And now, the catastrophe can be prevented… at a gaming table. This is exactly the idea brought to life by two UzhNU students, Nikita Lisovets and Daryna Yants.
The game was created as part of the “Viridis” project, which was implemented under the Re:Source initiative of the “Teplitsa” Initiative Platform, a non-governmental organization, with support from the German government through the KfW Development Bank and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF). But behind the formal title lies a personal story of doubts, setbacks, and seven months of intense work.
“We didn’t receive a grant, but we didn’t give up on the idea.”
The idea for the game was born in the spring—during the Re:Source training session. Participants had only three days to come up with an eco-project. It was then that the idea arose to create a board game—a format capable of engaging young people.
“At first, we didn’t receive funding at the hackathon. But our belief in the idea kept us from giving up. Eventually, funding became available—and ‘Viridis’ got the green light,” says Nikita Lisovets, the idea’s creator and project lead.
Together with Daryna Yants, they set about full-scale development. Nikita was responsible for management, finding designers, game mechanics, and production oversight. Daryna became the game world director—the screenwriter, character designer, and the person who tested the game with real players.
An alternative Ukraine that bears an uncanny resemblance to the real one
In Viridis, you find yourself in an alternative Ukraine—one on the brink of ecological collapse. But what makes this “alternative” so unsettling is that all the game’s scenarios are based on real events and scientific forecasts.
The Carpathians—landslides following deforestation.
Polissya—fires in drained swamps.
The Black Sea region—oil spills.
Donetsk Oblast—technological risks.
Kyiv—smog hanging over the city.
And to prevent a catastrophe, players must figure out who can be trusted and who remains an antagonist. First, participants choose their roles: ecologist, farmer, activist, journalist, engineer. Each has their own strengths and weaknesses.
At the heart of the game is the Ecotrack, a scale measuring the state of the environment. If the team brings it down to zero, the country can still be saved. But if, due to betrayal, indifference, or mistakes, the level reaches a critical point—everyone loses.
“You constantly have to ask yourself: who can you trust here? And whose decisions truly save the day, rather than just masking the problem,” say the developers.
Viridis reveals a simple yet painful truth: even good intentions without cooperation can destroy the system.
15 characters—and not a single one is random
The game features 15 unique characters. Each has their own story, personality, and style. Co-developer Daryna Yants was responsible for this.
“We wanted the player not just to move a piece, but to feel a connection with their character,” she explains.
It’s easy to see yourself here—in the Teacher fighting for education, or in the Journalist trying to convey the truth even when it’s inconvenient.
A game that continues after the match
After the game, players don’t just walk away in silence. They discuss, debate, and analyze: where they went wrong, what could have been done differently.
“It is this moment of reflection that changes the way you think. You see how decisions lead to consequences,” say the authors.
“Viridis” is an example of how a student initiative can become a tool for environmental education. And a reminder that the country’s future—even in a game—depends on whether we are capable of acting together. More details on the “UzhNU Media Center” website
Angelina Giresh
