EU PLAYER

Funding programme

Erasmus+ KA220-YOU – Cooperation Partnerships in Youth

Project reference

2024-1-DE04-KA220-YOU-000255691

Period

2024–2027

Coordinating organisation

YES Forum – Youth and European Social Work Forum, Germany

Participating countries

Germany, Austria, Italy, Ireland, Romania, Greece

Official project website

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EU PLAYER aims to strengthen young people’s knowledge of the European Union, their sense of European belonging and their capacity to engage in democratic and civic life through cooperative Board Game-Based Learning.

Specific learning objectives

• European Union knowledge: Improve understanding of European institutions, European values, the functioning of the EU and its relevance to young people’s everyday lives.
• Democratic citizenship: Encourage young people to recognise opportunities for civic participation and to reflect on their role in European democratic processes.
• European identity and belonging: Foster a stronger connection with the European Union while encouraging respect for cultural diversity and different perspectives.
• Cooperation and teamwork: Develop collaborative problem-solving, communication, negotiation and collective decision-making through cooperative gameplay.
• Critical reflection: Encourage participants to discuss European challenges, evaluate different courses of action and consider the consequences of collective decisions.
• Inclusion and accessibility: Make European citizenship education more engaging and accessible to young people, including those with fewer opportunities or limited previous knowledge of the EU.
• Educational innovation: Improve the capacity of youth workers, teachers and other educators to apply game-based learning and gamification in European citizenship education.
• Youth participation: Encourage participants to share their learning with peers and become active multipliers of European knowledge and values.

Intended learning outcomes

The project seeks to combine cognitive learning about European institutions and values with social participation, collaborative learning and a stronger sense of European citizenship.

These are project objectives. The extent to which they have been achieved remains subject to the ongoing educational piloting and evaluation activities.

EU PLAYER has developed an original cooperative educational board game entitled Europe United, specifically designed to introduce young people to the European Union, its institutions, values and opportunities for civic participation.

Game developed: Europe United

The game was developed in collaboration with the professional Italian game design company Red Glove Edizioni, with Federico Dumas involved in its development.

Game characteristics

• Cooperative gameplay: Participants work together rather than pursuing exclusively individual victories. Collaboration, communication and shared decisions are central to the experience.
• Scenario-based learning: The game features three scenarios inspired by real-life challenges, connecting gameplay with European issues and decisions.
• Strategic decision-making: Players are encouraged to consider available choices and cooperate in responding to the situations presented.
• European citizenship content: The educational content addresses European values, institutions, cooperation and opportunities for young people to participate in civic life.
• Collaborative problem-solving: The game creates situations intended to stimulate discussion, teamwork and the consideration of different perspectives.

Development and testing

A functioning prototype was presented to project partners during the transnational meeting in Dublin in February 2026. Europe United was subsequently introduced and played during the international training event in Lucca, Italy, in March 2026.

Target audience: Primarily young people aged 13–25, according to the coordinator’s current project and training information.

Game approach: Custom-Designed Educational Games.

Availability: The project coordinator announced distribution in partner-country educational settings from October 2026. A digital adaptation is also planned.

Technical documentation: A complete publicly verified rulebook specifying player count, playing time, individual player roles, components and detailed mechanisms was not available in the sources reviewed. These characteristics should be added once the official game rules can be examined.

Games developed: One original cooperative board game, Europe United, with three educational scenarios.

EU PLAYER adopts a cooperative, scenario-based Board Game-Based Learning approach in which an original educational board game is integrated into a broader programme of European citizenship education, facilitator training and youth participation.

The methodology seeks to make European Union topics more accessible by connecting collaborative gameplay with practical educational activities and opportunities for civic engagement.

Documented methodological components

1. European citizenship education: Learning activities introduce European values, institutions and participation opportunities, providing an educational context for the board game.
2. Professional preparation: Educators and youth workers receive training in gamification, game-based learning, European Union topics and the practical facilitation of Europe United.
3. Scenario-based cooperative gameplay: Participants use the board game to engage collaboratively with three scenarios inspired by real-life European challenges.
4. Complementary learning activities: The Learn by Play handbook provides guidance and exercises intended to connect game-based experiences with wider educational objectives.
5. Local implementation: Trained educators facilitate workshops in schools, youth centres and other educational settings in participating countries.
6. Youth engagement and dissemination: Tournaments, peer exchange, youth ambassador activities and digital communication are intended to extend participation beyond individual game sessions.

Facilitator’s role

The project follows a train-the-trainer model. Lead trainers receive international preparation and subsequently support other educators at local level.

Facilitators are expected to introduce European Union topics, explain the game, support cooperative participation and connect gameplay with complementary educational activities.

Learning through cooperation

The cooperative design encourages players to approach challenges collectively. This creates opportunities to discuss shared interests, different perspectives and the importance of cooperation in European decision-making.

Reflection and debriefing

The published project description confirms that the handbook contains complementary educational exercises linked to the board game. However, the reviewed documentation does not establish a single mandatory debriefing sequence, a standardised duration or a specific set of reflection questions for every session.

Educational transfer

The project intends to extend learning beyond the game through workshops, youth engagement activities and an EU Player Ambassador approach, encouraging participants to share their experiences and knowledge within their communities.

Methodological documentation status

The overall educational approach is documented. A detailed assessment of the relationship between individual game mechanics, scenario objectives and facilitator interventions requires further examination of the official game rules and the full Learn by Play handbook.

EU PLAYER is being implemented through a three-year Erasmus+ partnership involving six European countries. Its activities combine educational game development, facilitator training, local workshops, youth engagement and digital dissemination.

Documented implementation activities

• Game development: Europe United was developed in cooperation with Red Glove Edizioni, a professional Italian game development company.
• Prototype testing: Project partners tested a functioning prototype during a transnational meeting in Dublin in February 2026, examining gameplay and discussing final adjustments.
• International training: An International Training on Gamification, Game-Based Learning and the EU took place in Lucca, Italy, from 25 to 27 March 2026.
• Training participants: The Lucca training involved 24 youth workers, teachers and other educational professionals from participating organisations.
• Training content: Activities included game-based learning theory, gamification, European Union institutions and concepts, practical sessions with Europe United, and educational implementation planning.
• Public dissemination: On 28 March 2026, the game and its educational approach were presented during Lucca Collezionando, a public event dedicated to comics and games.
• Local training: The coordinator announced local training activities beginning in late 2026, including sessions in Stuttgart and Berlin, to prepare additional educators to facilitate the game.
• Educational piloting: The partnership plans to implement workshops in schools, youth centres and other educational settings across the participating countries during the 2026/27 school year.

Project participation targets

• Train at least 200 educators and youth workers in relevant game-based educational approaches.
• Reach approximately 10,000 young people through project activities.
• Develop a digital adaptation of Europe United.
• Organise a tournament, youth engagement activities and an international Summer Camp for 20 highly engaged participants.

These figures represent project targets and planned activities, not verified final achievements.

Evaluation and evidence

The project includes plans to assess its educational methodology through large-scale piloting with young people and educators across participating countries.

Available public documentation confirms the development and testing of the board game, the completion of the international train-the-trainer event and the preparation of local educational implementation.

However, the reviewed sources do not provide consolidated quantitative results demonstrating measurable changes in European Union knowledge, civic participation, attitudes towards the EU or other targeted learning outcomes.

Evidence classification: Documented game development, prototype testing and international facilitator training. Educational implementation is progressing, while final learning outcomes and evidence of effectiveness remain unavailable in the reviewed sources.

Evaluation limitations: Published information is currently insufficient to assess the intervention’s effectiveness. Further evidence is needed regarding participants, measurement instruments, pre- and post-intervention results, comparison groups and longer-term educational outcomes.

Project status: Ongoing, with completion scheduled for November 2027.

EU PLAYER is developing a collection of educational resources designed to make European citizenship education more accessible through cooperative Board Game-Based Learning, gamification and youth participation.

Available and documented resources

• Europe United Board Game: An original cooperative educational board game developed in collaboration with Red Glove Edizioni. It includes three scenarios inspired by real-life challenges and addresses European Union institutions, values and opportunities for civic participation.
• Learn by Play Handbook: A methodological resource for teachers, youth workers and trainers introducing game-based learning and gamification in European citizenship education. It includes guidance and practical exercises that can be connected to the board game.
• Multilingual Handbook: The coordinator provides access to versions of the Learn by Play handbook in English, German, Italian, Greek and Romanian.
• International Training Materials: Educational content developed for the March 2026 training in Lucca, addressing EU knowledge, gamification, game-based learning, workshop preparation and practical gameplay.
• Training and Implementation Guidance: The partnership supports local training activities designed to prepare educators to introduce Europe United in schools and youth centres.
• Project Communication Resources: Partner publications, training reports and dissemination activities document the development of the game and its educational applications.

Resources planned or under development

• Digital Game: A digital adaptation of Europe United intended to increase accessibility and expand the reach of the project.
• Audiovisual and Social Media Materials: Digital communication resources aimed at promoting European citizenship and youth participation.
• Youth Engagement Activities: A tournament, hackathon and international Summer Camp intended to extend the learning experience beyond individual workshops.

Accessibility and transferability

The multilingual handbook and train-the-trainer approach support potential replication by educators and youth organisations in different European contexts.

According to the coordinator, game and training materials are provided free of charge to participating educators. However, the public availability, distribution conditions and reuse licence of the complete physical game have not been independently verified.

A complete methodological appraisal of the game would also require access to its final rulebook and scenario instructions.

EU PLAYER is developing a collection of educational resources designed to make European citizenship education more accessible through cooperative Board Game-Based Learning, gamification and youth participation.

Available and documented resources

• Europe United Board Game: An original cooperative educational board game developed in collaboration with Red Glove Edizioni. It includes three scenarios inspired by real-life challenges and addresses European Union institutions, values and opportunities for civic participation.
• Learn by Play Handbook: A methodological resource for teachers, youth workers and trainers introducing game-based learning and gamification in European citizenship education. It includes guidance and practical exercises that can be connected to the board game.
• Multilingual Handbook: The coordinator provides access to versions of the Learn by Play handbook in English, German, Italian, Greek and Romanian.
• International Training Materials: Educational content developed for the March 2026 training in Lucca, addressing EU knowledge, gamification, game-based learning, workshop preparation and practical gameplay.
• Training and Implementation Guidance: The partnership supports local training activities designed to prepare educators to introduce Europe United in schools and youth centres.
• Project Communication Resources: Partner publications, training reports and dissemination activities document the development of the game and its educational applications.

Resources planned or under development

• Digital Game: A digital adaptation of Europe United intended to increase accessibility and expand the reach of the project.
• Audiovisual and Social Media Materials: Digital communication resources aimed at promoting European citizenship and youth participation.
• Youth Engagement Activities: A tournament, hackathon and international Summer Camp intended to extend the learning experience beyond individual workshops.

Accessibility and transferability

The multilingual handbook and train-the-trainer approach support potential replication by educators and youth organisations in different European contexts.

According to the coordinator, game and training materials are provided free of charge to participating educators. However, the public availability, distribution conditions and reuse licence of the complete physical game have not been independently verified.

A complete methodological appraisal of the game would also require access to its final rulebook and scenario instructions.