Custom Educational Web Games & Simulations

Why lectures and online courses don't build skills

😴

Lectures are forgotten in a week — 80% of material is lost

The Ebbinghaus forgetting curve is confirmed by dozens of studies: within 7 days people retain less than 20% of what they heard (Murre & Dros, 2015, PLOS ONE). Employees sit through lectures and forget most of it. Engagement is near zero — people scroll their phones while the speaker talks.

📉

Online course completion rate — below 30%

According to iSpring (2024), the average completion rate of corporate online courses in Russia doesn«t exceed 30%. The »read a slide and take a quiz« format creates neither interest nor motivation to finish. Training budgets grow, but results don»t.

🧩

Complex skills can't be taught through slides

Strategic thinking, systems analysis, decision-making under uncertainty — you can't teach these with a lecture. University of Colorado research (Sitzmann, 2011) showed: simulation-based training improves retention by 9% and application confidence by 20% — because it creates experience, not just information transfer.

How educational games solve these problems

🎮

Simulations with real decisions

• Participants make decisions and see consequences — just like in real work
• Scenarios based on real business cases, not abstract exercises
• Case: Energy Trilemma — 4 countries, energy policy, balancing three metrics

🏆

Game mechanics for engagement

• Points, leaderboards, comparison with other participants
• Limited time, resources, and rounds — creating tension and motivation
• 15-20 minutes per game — fits into the workday without disruption

🤖

AI-adaptive difficulty

• The system adjusts scenarios to the participant's level
• Beginners get hints, experienced players — tougher conditions
• AI generates feedback after every decision

🔄

Training wrapper with reflection

• The game is not the goal — it's a tool within a training program
• A facilitator leads decision debriefs and group reflection
• Participants transfer game experience to real work situations

Who educational web games are for

👩‍💼

Corporate L&D

Training is expensive but doesn't engage — employees sit through and forget

A game format that sticks and delivers measurable results

🎓

Universities & educational organizations

Students don't engage in lectures, practice is disconnected from theory

Simulations where theory becomes decision-making experience

💡

EdTech companies

Need engaging content but lack game design expertise

A ready-made team: instructional designer + game designer + developer

How we develop a training game

1

Brief & analysis

1-2 days

Define learning objectives, target audience, and key skills to develop

2

Game design

1-2 weeks

Design mechanics, scenarios, and feedback system — pedagogy + game in one document

3

Development

3-6 weeks

Build the web game: browser-based, no installation, mobile-adaptive

4

Testing

1 week

A pilot group plays through the game. We collect data, adjust balance and difficulty

5

Launch & training

1-2 days

Integrate the game into your training program. Prepare facilitators to run sessions

What you get

Pedagogy + game design in one team

Real case: Energy Trilemma — simulation for 4 economies

Training wrapper with reflection and subject matter expert

Browser-based, no installation or mobile apps needed

Научная база игрового обучения

Симуляции: +9% усвоение, +20% уверенность vs лекции (Sitzmann, 2011, мета-анализ 65 исследований)
Активное обучение: 2x запоминание vs пассивное слушание (Freeman et al., 2014, 225 исследований)

Попробуйте бесплатно: Energy Trilemma — 15 минут в браузере.

The science behind game-based learning

Simulations: +9% retention, +20% confidence vs lectures (Sitzmann, 2011, meta-analysis of 65 studies)
Active learning: 2x retention vs passive listening (Freeman et al., 2014, 225 studies)

Try it free: Energy Trilemma — 15 minutes in a browser.

Case Study

Energy Trilemma — strategic energy policy simulation

⚠️

Problem

Training participants in energy policy couldn«t grasp the complexity of balancing security, affordability, and sustainability. Lectures provided theory but didn»t build systems thinking.

💡

Solution

EdUnit built the Energy Trilemma web simulation: 4 fictional countries with different starting conditions, each round a decision about energy policy. Participants accept or reject proposals and see how each decision affects three metrics. 15-20 minutes, in a browser, no installation.

✅

Result

The game is used as part of a facilitated training with reflection. Participants call it «the most memorable part of the program.» The format scales: from group sessions to individual play. Available free at trilemma.edunit.org.

Simple simulation

from $3,000

✓ Linear scenario with 3-5 decision points
✓ Browser-based, mobile-adaptive
✓ Basic scoring and feedback system
✓ Facilitator guide

Discuss your project

Complex simulation with AI

from $6,000

✓ Nonlinear scenario with branching
✓ AI-adaptive difficulty and feedback
✓ Multiplayer or competitive mode
✓ Training wrapper with reflection

Discuss your project

FAQ

How long does it take to develop an educational web game?

6 to 10 weeks from brief to finished game. A simple simulation with linear narrative — 6 weeks. A nonlinear game with AI adaptation and multiplayer — up to 10 weeks. Timelines depend on mechanic complexity and number of scenarios.

Can the training game be used without a trainer?

Yes. Games are designed for two modes: self-guided play (with built-in AI feedback) and group sessions with a facilitator. Energy Trilemma, for example, works in both formats.

What devices do educational web games work on?

All games are web applications that run in any modern browser (Chrome, Safari, Firefox) on desktop, tablet, or phone. No downloads, no installation. This is critical for corporate training — no IT department involvement needed.

Can the training game be adapted to our industry?

Yes, that's the primary working format. We take your business cases, processes, and data and turn them into game scenarios. Employees recognize their real work situations. This increases training transfer — skills from the game carry over to work.

How is an educational game different from gamification?

Gamification adds points and badges to existing content — motivation through external stimuli. An educational game is a different format: participants learn through making decisions and facing consequences. It's closer to simulation-based training, which University of Colorado research shows improves retention by 9% and confidence by 20%.

How much does educational game development cost?

A simple simulation with a linear scenario starts at $3,000. A complex simulation with AI adaptation, branching, and multiplayer starts at $6,000. We give a precise estimate after the brief — the discussion is free.