Climate education doesn't have to feel like homework.
These five German-langauge sustainability games make learning fun, engaging, and playful experiences - perfect for classrooms, family game nights, workshops about climate action, and as a stocking stuffer for that one uncle who still doesn't really get it.
🐾 1. Sinner or Saviour: Best CO₂ Footprint Climate Education Card Game
Price: €20,90 (including markers)
Ages: 14+
Time: ~45 mins
Where to Buy: Polar Embassy →
We couldn't make this list without plugging our game Sinner or Saviour by designers Maike Klingler and Luisa Schrott!
If you’re looking for a climate change card game that’s fun, educational, and sustainable, we've got you covered. Each round, players predict how many tricks they can win while protecting their limited “climate budget.” Every card represents an everyday activity with its CO₂e footprint, from brewing coffee to taking a long-haul flight. Special Sinner and Saviour cards add exciting twists: will you lead your group to a sustainable future, or plunge it into climate chaos?
Ideal for eco-conscious game nights, classrooms, and sustainability workshops, Sinner or Saviour turns climate science into an interactive experience. Printed sustainably in Europe, this game is perfect for anyone looking to learn, play, and make an impact.
✔ Why we love it:
- Quick rounds, fast pace
- Complex topics made easy for ages 14+
- Printed in Austria, Cradle-to-Cradle certified
- Great for classrooms and family game nights
💩 2. Holy Shit: Circular Waste Systems & Sustainability Card Game
Price: €14,90
Ages: 9+
Time: 15-30 mins
Where to Buy: Goldeimer →
Hat tip to our friends at Finizio for giving us a copy of this cute climate education game by Goldeimer. In Holy Shit, players design circular waste systems that recover nutrients from human waste back to where they're most helpful: the soil. It's a clever concept for showing the difference between different sanitation systems and the systems that can support regenerative agriculture. Striking visual design and well-written instructions make it easy to pick up.
✔ Why it works:
- Simple gameplay makes it quick to start playing
- Teaches circular concepts & systems design in an approachable way
- Accessible price
🌍 3. Planet A: Cooperative Climate Change Card Game for Families & Groups
Price: €16,99
Ages: 10+
Time: 15-45 mins
Where to Buy: Planet A Games
Planet A turns sustainability into a fast-paced climate change card game where players work together to save our planet... because there’s no Planet B. Each player receives secret tasks, like collecting cards on specific topics or helping Team Planet A in the center of the table. Complete three missions first and you win!
What makes it fun:
- Quick, dynamic rounds (15–45 minutes)
- 150 large, beautifully illustrated cards
- Cooperative play with real-world challenges like environmental disasters
- Great conversation starter on climate, plastic pollution, and CO₂
Perfect for ages 10+, game nights, or classrooms that want to mix fun with real-life eco-awareness.
🔋 4. e-Mission: Strategy Board Game to Stop Climate Change
Price: €79,99
Ages: 10+
Time: 120 mins
Where to Buy: Schmidt Spiele →
In e-Mission, players step into the roles of global powers facing the urgent challenge of climate change. Together, you must keep global CO₂ emissions below what the Earth can absorb... before the temperature rises beyond control.
Each round, you’ll hold climate summits, manage crises, and launch projects to replace dirty energy with renewables, stabilize society, and prevent tipping points. It's a deep-dive (play can take 120 minutes!) where decisions matter: every move impacts global temperature and crisis severity.
✔ Why it works:
- Cooperative game with simultaneous play
- Strategic card and resource management
- Focus on real climate solutions like solar power and global initiatives
- QR codes link to real-world projects for deeper learning
🐝 5. Ecogon: Build Ecosystems & Teach Biodiversity
Price: €39,90
Ages: 8+
Time: 30-90 mins
Where to Buy: Gaia Games →
An eco-friendly educational favorite, Ecogon makes players into ecosystem architects who balance habitats where plants and animals can thrive. Using hexagonal nature tiles, you connect habitats, plants, and species to build a resilient network—while facing challenges from unpredictable event cards.
The goal: establish as many species as possible before time runs out. With its mix of strategy, cooperation, and real ecology, Ecogon is both a game and a lesson in why every species matters. The game itself is also made in Germany.
✔ Why it works:
- Teaches biodiversity, species interaction, and ecosystem resilience
- Can be played either cooperatively or competitively
- Includes educational facts about species and habitats
FAQs
What are the best climate education games for schools?
Depends on the age! For younger students 8-10, we recommend shorter games like Ecogon or Planet A. For teens and young adults, we recommend Sinner or Saviour and e-Mission, due to their strategic gameplay and longer timespan.
How can I make sustainability education fun?
We recommend interactive card games or cooperative board games to engage players for lessons that are fun and memorable.