Investigation Declaration: 2025 Formal Game Winner
Investigation Declaration Excels at GEE! Awards
We just wrapped the 2025 Formal Games Competition for the GEE! Awards, and the winner is… Investigation Declaration!
This history-bending adventure impressed the judges with its style, engagement, and gameplay, and it nailed core principles of great game-based learning—showing how a game can teach deeply while keeping players hooked.
In the game Investigation Declaration, history meets time-travel meets high adventure. Part detective story, part time-travel romp, this game turns players into agents racing across centuries to uncover hidden connections between pivotal events. Judges loved how the nostalgia of Carmen Sandiego met futuristic details teaching all about the Enlightenment.
Why it works (and why James Paul Gee would approve):
Active, Critical Learning. Players question sources, chase leads, and test ideas rather than passively receiving information.
Situated Meaning. Historical concepts are embedded in rich, meaningful contexts. One judge explains: “I found this a clever way of drawing connections across history. Too often we learn about one country’s perspective, not realizing the global context.”
Multiple Routes. Players can follow different investigative paths, building agency and ownership of learning. One judge shared, “I love the reflective practice of affirming the links in this game! It gets the students past just randomly clicking around and gets them to think about the connections.”
System Thinking. History is shown as an interconnected network of events and perspectives (no isolated facts here!).
Amplification of Input. A small player action (unlocking a clue) can lead to big insights, making each discovery feel powerful.
Investigation Declaration also included polished aesthetics like fun visuals and audio that run smoothly even on low-budget devices. Importantly, the judges highlighted accessibility and inclusion features like Spanish language versions, glossary tools, and VoiceOver.
There were other standout games in this category that also deserve praise:
In Uncovering Loyalties, players stroll through Colonial Williamsburg, interact with townsfolk holding varied viewpoints, and experience a living, breathing historic world. It is strong on Identity Principle (players take on meaningful roles) and Diverse Perspectives Principle, ensuring history isn’t told from a single voice. One judge noted, “This game made me want to visit Williamsburg!”
Election Lab breaks down the complex U.S. electoral system with approachable mechanics and stellar classroom resources. It excels at Simplification without Dumbing Down, keeping big ideas intact while making them relatable.
Crown and Capital is a creative twist on economics that turns money management into medieval vault-keeping. The game aligns with Practice Principle through repeated, low-stakes opportunities to experiment with financial decisions that make learning stick.
All of the games in the Formal Games category were fun, engaging, and mindful of Gee’s learning principles.
Kudos to all of the game creators!
Thanks to category lead, Amy Patterson (Chief Program Officer, Urban Arts), and judges: Amanda Siebert-Evenstone (Efficacy Researcher, Age of Learning), Ray Kimball (Founder and CEO, 42 Educational Games Coaching and Design), Jeci Younger (PBS Kids), Valentin Briukhanov (Lead Game Designer, CodeCombat).