Building Dikes, Making Decisions: Dike or Strike

What if you could step back in time and experience the challenges of early democracy for yourself? That’s the idea behind Dike or Strike, a cooperative game created by United Students Interactive for the Province of Groningen.

The game was designed to show young people that participating in their local communities can make a difference, even before they are old enough to vote. Players are transported to medieval Groningen, where farmers, townspeople, and nobles must work together to prepare for an approaching flood. 

With the storm on its way, players have to plan and build dikes and canals across different areas of land, while balancing the interests of the communities around them. Working in a team of four, players must make decisions, solve social conflicts, and keep the different groups happy and prepared.

At its core, Dike or Strike combines cooperation, strategy, and historical storytelling to explore how communities can work together to solve problems. And with a flood approaching, there’s not much time to reach an agreement.