Boarders is a board game that addresses inequalities embedded in migration processes and unequal access to mobility. The objective was, through a game, to demonstrate not only the hardships, fortunes, and misfortunes that involve this path, but also the inequalities that structurally determine our mobility. Bringing this theme into a game aims to bring players closer to the migrant experience and to focus on the perspective that much of our destiny is less dependent on our choices than on the geopolitical and social context we're placed in.
Boarders
“A Board Game about Mobility, Inequality and Mutual Support”
Prototype of the Board Game Set
What it is about
How we built it
The project was developed through research conducted along three parallel tracks: game design, visual language, and immigration processes. Design elements such as color palettes, graphics, and mechanics were explored alongside research on migration as a phenomenon, immigration policies, and how the media portrays these experiences. Research findings were translated into tangible game components, including the map, player identities, and card systems. Affinity was used for design and production, Zotero for reference management, and Miro for project coordination.
Challenges we ran into
A key challenge was addressing migration inequalities without reinforcing stereotypes or reproducing harmful narratives. Working with real-world references required careful abstraction and the development of an allegorical approach.
What we're proud of
We are proud to have created a fully playable board game that meaningfully integrates research into its mechanics and visual design, allowing complex structural inequalities to be explored through an engaging format.
What we learned
Through the project, we gained experience with game design workflows and a deeper understanding of migration studies.
What's next
After further playtesting and refinement, the game materials may be made publicly available in an easy-to-print format. The project will be released under a CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 license to support reuse and adaptation.
Presenting the Game to Classmates
Game Rules
Printed Game Set
Sources
Achiume, E. T. (2019). Migration as Decolonization.
De Haas, H., Vezzoli, S., & Villares-Varela, M. (2019). European migration under restrictive and liberal border regimes 1950-2010.
Mongia, R. V. (1999). Race, Nationality, Mobility: A History of the Passport. Public Culture. https://doi.org/10.1215/08992363-11-3-527
Pécoud, A. (2024). Mapping Global Migration Governance.
Tazzioli, M. (2015). Migrants’ uneven geographies and counter-mapping at the limits of representation. Which Europe?
De Haas, H., Vezzoli, S., & Villares-Varela, M. (2019). European migration under restrictive and liberal border regimes 1950-2010.
Mongia, R. V. (1999). Race, Nationality, Mobility: A History of the Passport. Public Culture. https://doi.org/10.1215/08992363-11-3-527
Pécoud, A. (2024). Mapping Global Migration Governance.
Tazzioli, M. (2015). Migrants’ uneven geographies and counter-mapping at the limits of representation. Which Europe?
Students
Alena Avdeeva and Martim Braga Pessoa
15th intake
Supervisor
Juliane Cron, M.Sc.
Keywords
Immigration, Mobility, Inequality, Cooperation, Board Game
