A Dutch artist, Wouter Sieuwerts, has developed a browser game titled Build that Bridge, offering a novel take contrasting the White House’s recent game launch. Released as a response to Build the Wall: Zombie Border Siege, the game invites players to connect rather than exclude.
Rethinking Game Mechanics
While the game on Arcade.Gov has players stacking blocks to form a defensive wall, Sieuwerts’s game employs reverse mechanics to construct a bridge. The idea is to clear blocks to extend the bridge from opposite riverbanks until they meet in the middle. This innovative design seeks to counter the divisive themes found in Build the Wall, where the goal is to fend off “aliens” at a fictional border.
A Message of Inclusion
Speaking on the motivation behind his creation, Sieuwerts commented on the White House’s gamification of exclusion by comparing it to the trivialisation of America’s colonisation. He emphasises the power of play in fostering understanding and connection, inviting players to “build bridges rather than walls”.
Interactive Community Building
Build that Bridge enhances the idea of community through gameplay by allowing players to initiate their own bridge or collaborate with others. Users can see markers representing fellow builders, enhancing a sense of global participation. A live counter displays the total and ongoing builds, along with “meetings” — a testament to the collective effort and unity among players.
Tetris Company Responds to “Build the Wall”
The release of Sieuwerts’s game coincided with a statement from The Tetris Company, clarifying its non-involvement in Build the Wall and reiterating its commitment to fostering connection and unity, aligning with Sieuwerts’s vision.
Available at buildthatbridge.eu, Build that Bridge is free and devoid of advertisements or data collection, with no account necessary to play. It further supports the cause of refugee resettlement by directing players to the United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR).
Reporting based on coverage first published by eurogamer.net.