Introduction
A small but ambitious game development team from the Kingston region has captured international attention by winning a global game design contest. The studio, Polyvale Studios, clinched the grand prize as well as the Best Aesthetics award for their game Diem. Their victory came in a highly competitive contest named “Citizens, Assemble!”, which challenged more than fifty teams from around the world to create a game centered on democratic engagement and citizens’ assemblies.
This achievement is especially striking because it demonstrates how independent developers can use games not just for entertainment, but as tools for civic education and engagement. Polyvale’s win came with a substantial monetary reward of US$10,000, a clear vote of confidence from the contest organizers in the studio’s vision as well as execution.
The Vision Behind Diem
At its heart, Diem is what Polyvale Studios calls a “cozy democracy simulator.” Rather than designing a high-tension political strategy game or a competitive policy battle, the team has focused on creating an environment of calm deliberation, dialogue, and collaboration. In the game, players assume the role of a co-chair of a citizens’ assembly. They select participants, set the agenda, and guide the group through a full day of discussion and decision-making.
The central aim of the game is not just to pass lots of resolutions, but to build shared understanding among participants. Players need to balance competing perspectives, listen to different voices, and help citizens find common ground. This mirrors real-world citizens’ assemblies, which are structured to bring together randomly chosen individuals and facilitate meaningful and inclusive deliberation.
Climate action is woven into the game’s themes: one of the major topics the assembly discusses is environmental policy. The inclusion of this issue makes Diem not only timely but deeply relevant in a world grappling with ecological crises.
The Contest That Made It Possible
The competition that Polyvale Studios won was organized by One World or None, in partnership with the Global Game Jam. The goal of this contest was to spotlight how games can model and explore citizens’ assemblies — a democratic mechanism in which ordinary people come together to deliberate on public issues. The jam was explicitly dedicated to nurturing games that are mobile-friendly, accessible, and rooted in the values of dialogue, inclusivity, and participation.
Citizens’ assemblies are not a theoretical construct; they are being used in real life in many places. These assemblies select participants through a random or stratified process that makes them more representative of the population than typical political bodies. Participants engage in structured deliberation, learn from experts, and then vote on recommendations. In some countries, such assemblies have already influenced significant policy reforms.
The contest included a diverse jury, and among the judges was celebrated musician and activist Brian Eno, who praised Diem for its thoughtful design and emotional resonance. The judging criteria did more than reward technical skill: games were evaluated for how well they captured the spirit and challenges of real-world civic engagement.
Design, Storytelling, And Sound: Building A Warm Experience
One of the most remarkable aspects of Diem is its emotional tone. Polyvale Studios did not simply design a system; they created a narrative-driven simulation that feels personal, human, and hopeful. The game’s designers combined various disciplines—writing, art, sound design, and more—to deliver a holistic experience.
Narrative & Gameplay: Players guide a group through an agenda, moderating discussion, uncovering tensions, and steering toward agreements. The design encourages empathy and understanding rather than confrontation.
Sound & Music: Composer Winnie Liu played a critical role in defining the game’s mood. Her ambient, gentle music supports the deliberative space, making conversations feel warm and meaningful. Her sound design is not just background—it amplifies the emotional stakes of the assembly.
Voice & Character: Leslie McBay, one of the developers, brings a personal touch through voice acting and editing. Her reflection on the importance of assemblies emphasizes that these democratic bodies are deeply human, not just procedural.
This layered design—combining systems, story, sound, and character—makes Diem more than a simulation. It becomes a reflective space, inviting players to slow down, listen, and think about collective decisions in a new way.
Real-World Impact And Civic Significance
Polyvale’s success is not just about a game; it’s about social impact. By winning such a contest, they demonstrate that games can play a meaningful role in civic education and democratic innovation. Diem models a process of democratic engagement that many citizens may never personally experience, but which holds real potential for empowering communities.
In an era where democratic institutions face stress and skepticism, Diem offers a hopeful message: ordinary people, when brought together in structured and respectful dialogue, can imagine and build shared visions for change. The game is not just a teaching tool, but an invitation—to reflect on how decision-making works, who gets to speak, and how consensus might emerge from diversity.
Importantly, Diem is freely accessible. It is playable in a web browser, which means that educational institutions, civic groups, and curious individuals from many places can try it without barriers. This accessibility greatly amplifies its potential impact.
The Studio Behind The Game
Polyvale Studios is not operating in isolation. The team is supported by a peer accelerator called the Baby Ghosts Studio Development Fund, which emphasizes worker-owned, socially conscious studios. This kind of support structure is crucial: it shows that there is growing infrastructure in the games industry for developers who want to do more than chase commercial hits.
The co-founder of Baby Ghosts, Dr. Eileen Mary Holowka, praised Polyvale’s work by highlighting how they have translated their values—collaboration, civic engagement, empathy—into an actual, playable experience. She sees their triumph as proof that games with social purpose have a thriving future.
Challenges, Opportunities, And The Road Ahead
While Diem’s victory is inspiring, it also points to challenges and possibilities:
Scaling Reach: For the game to have maximum impact, it needs to reach more players — educators, civic organizations, and ordinary citizens. Awareness and outreach are key.
Balancing Realism and Playability: Citizens’ assemblies are complex in real life, and simulating them in a game involves trade-offs. Polyvale must continue refining how deeply to model reality versus keeping things playable.
Sustainability for Socially-Oriented Studios: Winning a prize is excellent, but sustaining a studio that prioritizes value-driven work over blockbuster revenue requires continued support through grants, partnerships, and non-profit funding.
Player Engagement: Unlike fast-paced action games, Diem relies on reflection and conversation. Keeping players engaged over time—especially those not inherently interested in democracy—is a challenge.
However, these challenges also bring major opportunities. The game could be used in classrooms to teach civic deliberation, in community groups to spark discussion, or even by organizations exploring participatory governance. With the right partnerships, Diem could become more than a prototype—it could be a recurring tool for civic learning.
Why Diem Matters For All Of Us?
You might wonder: why should someone who doesn’t usually play indie games or care about political theory pay attention to Diem? There are several reasons:
Learning Through Play: Diem provides a low-risk environment to understand how deliberative democracy works. You can experiment with facilitation, discussion, and decision-making in a simplified but meaningful way.
Fostering Empathy: By interacting with diverse, fictional citizens, players learn how different perspectives matter—and how consensus can emerge when people listen.
Inspiring Real-World Action: The game could inspire civic organizations, educators, or everyday citizens to try citizens’ assemblies in their own communities.
Reimagining Games’ Role: Diem is a powerful reminder that games are not just for entertainment. They can be tools for reflection, for education, and for imagining more collaborative futures.
Conclusion
Polyvale Studios’ win in the “Citizens, Assemble!” Game jam is more than just a trophy—it represents a powerful vision for what games can be. Diem, their “cozy democracy simulator,” is a deeply human, emotionally rich simulation of collective decision-making. It asks players not to win at all costs, but to listen, empathize, and build shared understanding.
In a world increasingly divided, Diem invites us to pause and imagine how ordinary people might come together, deliberate, and shape a better future. Through thoughtful design, story, and sound, Polyvale Studios has created a space that feels gentle and hopeful—and important.
