Play to learn. Learn to survive.
We personally know how it feels to survive a disaster
Raise youth’s awareness and practical knowledge on how to act in various emergency situations through an educational and engaging board game.
Our Mission
FiasCo was born from our own experience
Elze, one of our teammates, froze in terror during an earthquake in a Cairo hotel—walls shook, dust fell, and she had no idea what to do. That moment of helplessness inspired Fiasco: a game about chaos, unpredictability, and the power of being prepared.
Solution Approved by Students, Teachers & Experts
You can’t predict an extreme situation, but you can prepare.
Testing
Discover our vision and how we started our journey.
Prototype was tested by 600 students!
We introduced early prototypes of Fiasco in four schools, about 600 students, and observed how students and teachers interacted with each round. Feedback revealed confusing instructions and scenarios that lacked urgency, so we clarified wording on Situation cards and enhanced tension.
Teachers and mentors, like Martynas Maniušis, a civic education teacher, identified which emergency scenarios felt authentic and helped guide our improvements to enhance engagement.
Tested by an extreme situation specialist!
A mix of experienced gamers and newcomers evaluated pacing, balance, and thematic variety. They suggested cutting pitch time to 60 seconds and expanding Condition card diversity, which led to more dynamic decision-making. Follow-up sessions confirmed that these changes made gameplay smoother and more engaging.
The game is introduced at a time when there is a growing societal need for preparedness and survival skills, yet accessible and interactive tools to address this gap are lacking. It covers a broad range of topics and scenarios—not only those relevant to the current geopolitical situation in our region, but also everyday challenges faced globally.
The game includes cards featuring dangerous situations in various environments, helping players prepare not only for war or large-scale emergencies but also to develop essential life skills often overlooked in traditional civil safety education. Typically, such education is limited to fire safety or basic first aid, delivered through dry theory followed by a test. This game is a clear contrast: it’s engaging, unexpected, and highly practical.
The instructions seen only by the game leader are reduced to the most essential practical steps, encouraging other players to think creatively. This often leads to surprising and valuable insights shared by the group.
While playing, you’ll not only expand your knowledge but also strengthen the social fabric with those around you—enhancing mutual trust, confidence, and the ability to respond appropriately and calmly when real danger arises.
This game is perfect for both students and adults. I’ll be getting my own copy—and recommending it to friends and colleagues.”
Benas Švedas
Adviser of the Environmental Policy Implementation Coordination Group
FOCUS GROUP
