Serious games for disaster risk reduction: enhancing community preparedness for sustainable futures

Abstract

Disaster-resilient communities are essential to ensure sustainable futures, particularly in regions vulnerable to disasters. Traditional disaster risk reduction training methods often struggle to engage communities effectively, limiting their ability to apply knowledge in real-world scenarios. This study explores the potential of Serious Games as an innovative educational tool for enhancing disaster risk reduction, particularly in developing countries where such approaches remain underutilised. Through game- based workshops, participants engaged in immersive, scenario-driven learning experiences that integrated global and local disaster risk reduction knowledge, expert insights, and peer learning. Nine games were played during the workshops with community members and university students in the Eastern Province in Sri Lanka. A pre- and post-evaluation questionnaire, focus groups, and observations were used for data collection, analysed through statistical comparison and content analysis. Findings indicate that Serious Games not only improve risk awareness and strategic thinking but also improve collaborative learning and social responsibility. The study also highlights the ability of Serious Games to convey sensitive information in an engaging manner, making disaster education more accessible and impactful. Additionally, it highlights the importance of gender-sensitive approaches, emphasising the role of women in strengthening community-driven disaster risk reduction strategies. By offering an interactive learning approach, Serious Games contribute to effective disaster risk reduction and ultimately create sustainable futures.