Approaching Controversial Conflicts: Tabletop Simulations as Museums
Approaching Controversial Conflicts: Tabletop Simulations as Museums
Approaching Controversial Conflicts: Tabletop Simulations as Museums
Hugh O'Donnell
September, 22, 2025
Summary
The Troubles tabletop simulation offers a powerful medium for teaching Northern Ireland’s conflict through Historical Memory Education. By providing an immersive, narrative-based environment, it enables participants to think critically about complex socio-economic and historical contexts while safely exploring a sensitive period. The game grants players meaningful agency, allowing them to navigate diverse perspectives and co-author multifaceted narratives, much like visitors choosing paths in a museum. Its dynamic cards and narrative nodes create rich possibilities for learning, fostering historical empathy and moral reflection. Ultimately, The Troubles engages students as active author-readers, offering educational opportunities beyond traditional instruction.
Reference
O'Donnell, H. (2025, September 22). Approaching controversial conflicts: Tabletop simulations as museums. Analog Game Studies. https://analoggamestudies.org/2025/09/approaching-controversial-conflicts-tabletop-simulations-as-museums/