Ran Guo

Galactic Guardians

A board game + companion app that uses game theory to help children in multi-child families build life skills.

Role
Individual project
Dates
Sep–Nov 2024
The Galactic Guardians board game on a round wooden table, with the character standees, event cards and resource tokens, as a player moves the blue character

01

Problem and insight

Pie chart of the 3 major reasons for sibling rivalry: perceived unfairness, power struggles and competition, each illustrated with a photo of children
Illustrative stock photos.

Insight

Most solutions are parent-focused; few build kids' conflict-resolution and critical-thinking skills.

Design goal

A board game for children, especially those growing up with siblings, that fosters crucial life skills.

02

From game theory to mini-games

Each mini-game turns a classic game theory scenario into a choice children make together, earning Empathy, Negotiation, Strategy and Collaboration points.

  • Cake-Cutting Problem

    Cake-Cutting Problem illustration: two children share a cake, shown in four steps

    "You cut, I choose": divide fairly so no one envies another's share.

  • Public Goods Game

    Public Goods Game illustration: three children add coins to a piggy bank, the total is doubled and shared equally

    Each player decides how much to give to a shared pool that benefits everyone.

  • Volunteer's Dilemma

    Volunteer's Dilemma illustration: six children, a messy playroom, two tired children and cleaning tools

    The group succeeds only if at least one person makes a sacrifice.

  • Prisoner's Dilemma

    Prisoner's Dilemma illustration: the sentences for two prisoners depending on whether each confesses or stays silent

    Two players choose to cooperate or betray without talking to each other.

  • King's Wise Men Puzzle

    King's Wise Men Puzzle illustration: a king, white and blue hats, and three wise men wearing blue hats

    Players reason from what others can see to figure out their own hat.

  • Gift-Exchange Game

    Gift-Exchange Game illustration: four scenarios where a child does or doesn't eat their vegetables and a parent does or doesn't give a treat

    A parent and child each choose, and both win only when they cooperate.

03

The game

The full Galactic Guardians game board: four planets in the center, skill panels on all four sides, with the characters, resource tokens and event card decks around it
The four characters, Nova, Orion, Stella and Cosmo, drawn as colorful monsters
Four characters, each with a unique skill and starting resources.
The four event card types, each card back shown beside an example card: Mimic, Flare of Despair, Galactic Station Build and Energy Surge
Game Skill, Contingency, Mini-Game and Surprise cards shape each round.
  1. Product trial photo: the four character cards, each with its starting resource tokens

    01

    Pick a character.

    Each character has its own skill and resources.

  2. Product trial photo: a player places the purple character on a planet on the board

    02

    Choose a planet.

    Each planet produces a resource: collect one now, or wait for double.

  3. Product trial photo: a player draws an Energy Surge event card from the card rack

    03

    Reveal the event cards.

    Players go through the round's cards together.

  4. Product trial photo: a player holds the Galactic Station Build mini-game card and its outcome card

    04

    Make choices.

    Players earn Empathy, Negotiation, Strategy and Collaboration points.

  5. Product trial photo: a player places a skill tile on the board, beside a hand holding resource tokens

    05

    Next round.

    After 6 rounds, the most points and resources wins.

For 2–4 players.

04

Companion app

After each game, AI-generated analysis shows parents each child's player type and the skills they need to develop for a more harmonious family.

Play and progress

  • Leaderboard

    Leaderboard screen ranking Amy, John and Mia with score changes

    Rankings and score changes

  • Game history

    Game history screen with a search bar and a timeline of past games

    Searchable past games

  • Skill focus

    John's skill card showing he needs to work on strategic thinking and decision-making

    Skills to work on

  • Children's performance

    John's performance screen with a radar chart and the player type "The Connector"

    Skill chart and player type

Parent tools

  • Parent dashboard

    Parent dashboard greeting Tiffany, with an upload button and a list of children

    Children at a glance

  • New game record

    New game screen with score fields for Empathy, Strategy, Negotiation and Collaboration

    Enter game scores

  • Children's profile

    Amy's profile with basic information, personality tags and achievement badges

    Info, traits and achievements

  • Parent insights

    Parent insights screen with article cards on children, conflicts and family dynamics

    Parenting tips and articles