This Place Saves Lives: An award for a serious game that looks closer
This Place Saves Lives: An award for a serious game that looks closer
Natalie Neudert
November, 18, 2025
Summary
During the project week “A Different Kind of Game Jam,” TUM students Anie and Rai created This Place Saves Lives, a game exploring marginalized realities within supervised drug consumption rooms. Inspired by real stories and research on gender-specific needs in drug services, the game places players in the role of staff managing limited resources while engaging with users’ personal narratives. Using minimalist pixel art, the project emphasizes humanity, intersectionality, and social complexity without stereotyping. Awarded “The Unseen” at GamesFestival25, the game demonstrates how research-driven, socially engaged game design can foster empathy, education, and public dialogue beyond academic settings.
Reference
Neudert, N. (2025, November 18). This Place Saves Lives: An award for a serious game that looks closer. Technical University of Munich. https://www.tum.de/en/news-and-events/all-news/press-releases/details/this-place-saves-lives-an-award-for-a-serious-game-that-looks-closer