Save the Shores
A tower-defense game that teaches while it plays.
Save the Shores is a mobile card-based tower defense game designed to raise awareness about climate change. Players place environmental cards like Mangroves, Sandbanks, and Sea Walls to defend cities against rising tides — while learning about real-world solutions.
Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
2006
E-commerce
$1.578 billion (2019)
5,000+
Challenge
Turn real-world climate data into a meaningful and playable game loop. We had to balance entertainment and education without feeling preachy, all while keeping UX and difficulty accessible to younger players.
Results
Featured in our institute’s showcase for “best climate theme”
Successfully introduced climate concepts to younger players
Combined narrative framing with bite-sized factual learning
My Role
As both game designer and project manager, I led the core gameplay loop, oversaw educational content integration, and handled team coordination. I worked closely with artists and devs to ensure our serious message never got in the way of having fun.
"Designing this made me realize: games can plant seeds that grow into awareness"
Conclusion
Save the Shores reminded me that fun and education don’t have to be at odds. With the right mechanics and tone, games can empower players to understand and act — one card at a time.