For most people, the story of critical raw materials remains invisible. Where do they come from? What are the impacts of mining and processing? How can we recycle them at the end of a product’s life?
The AGEMERA project has taken an innovative approach to answer these questions by developing a serious online game. Using the familiar and entertaining format of “Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?”, the game turns complex issues about resources, sustainability, and technology into an accessible and engaging learning experience.
The AGEMERA Serious Game is structured as a set of 20 progressively challenging questions. Instead of aiming for prize money, players win by gaining knowledge and insights about the life cycle of CRMs.
The game follows the entire journey of a smartphone:
Through this structure, players learn not only facts about materials but also about the trade-offs involved in resource decisions. A mining choice may boost short-term production but harm the environment. A recycling strategy may require more investment but create long-term benefits.
This makes the game both educational and thought-provoking, encouraging players to think critically about sustainability.
The game is not a stand-alone product. It has been carefully designed to connect with educational materials developed within AGEMERA.
These include:
This integration ensures that the game is aligned with broader educational objectives. Players — whether they are students, teachers, decision-makers, or simply curious citizens — come away with a comprehensive understanding of the economic, environmental, and social dimensions of CRMs.
To maximize its reach, the AGEMERA game is available in six languages (English, Finnish, Estonian, German, Spanish, Romanian). This multilingual approach reflects AGEMERA’s mission to make raw material education accessible to diverse audiences across Europe. Whether in a classroom in Helsinki, a university in Madrid, or a workshop in Bucharest, players can engage with the content in their own language.
For teachers who want to bring the game into their classrooms, AGEMERA has created a package of supporting resources.
The teacher pack includes guidance on how to integrate the game into lessons, suggested pre- and post-game activities and reflection and discussion questions to encourage critical thinking.
These resources make it easy for teachers at secondary schools, universities, and adult education programs to adapt the game to their teaching needs. For example, a teacher may introduce the game to start a class on sustainability, then lead students into a debate about the environmental and social impacts of resource choices.
The choice to use a game format is not accidental. Research and practice show that games are powerful tools for learning. They engage players actively, provide instant feedback, and allow safe experimentation.
In pilot sessions across Europe, students and stakeholders described the AGEMERA game as:
By turning education into an interactive experience, the game makes abstract issues concrete and memorable.
As the AGEMERA project concludes, the Serious Game stands out as one of its most engaging legacies. It combines innovation, education, and sustainability in a way that is accessible to all. Most importantly, it will remain freely available online, ensuring that teachers, students, and the public can continue to learn about CRMs and their role in the green and digital transition.
Play the game here.
See the teacher´s supporting material here.
This game and the supporting teacher materials have been produced as part of the Horizon Europe AGEMERA project coordinated by the University of Oulu, Finland.
Author: Jari Joutsenvaara, Doctoral Researcher, Development Manager, Regional Excellence Research Group (REx), University of Oulu Kerttu Saalasti Institute
Image: AGEMERA
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