Despite growing interest in Serious Games for disaster risk reduction (DRR), empirical evidence from South Asian contexts remains limited. In Sri Lanka, recurrent floods, landslides and coastal hazards continue to expose weaknesses in preparedness, spatial planning and community-level decision-making within the built environment. This study aims to evaluate how a contextually adapted Serious Game can enhance disaster risk awareness, systems thinking and preparedness practices among diverse stakeholders in Sri Lanka.
A mixed-methods approach was adopted, involving the adaptation of the HAZAGORA board game to local hazards, livelihoods and governance structures. The intervention was implemented through nine facilitated workshops in Sri Lanka's Eastern Province, involving a total of 70 participants. Quantitative data from pre- and post-intervention questionnaires were analysed using paired-samples t-tests and effect size measures, while qualitative data from focus groups and observations were examined through thematic analysis.
Results indicate statistically significant and practically meaningful improvements in participants' understanding of land-use planning, infrastructure adaptation, community-based strategies and disaster preparedness. Large effect sizes demonstrate enhanced systems thinking and reduced fatalistic beliefs. Qualitative findings show that experiential gameplay strengthened collective decision-making, encouraged safer spatial and infrastructure choices, and improved participants' confidence in applying DRR measures within real-world built environment contexts.
This study provides novel empirical evidence from a South Asian developing-country context, demonstrating that low-technology, culturally adapted Serious Games can serve as effective decision-support tools. The findings highlight practical implications for integrating game-based approaches into DRR policy, professional training and built environment education in resource-constrained settings.
