Exploring Cultural Identity through Play: The Impact of Ongoing Character Development Mechanics in the Transformative Freeform Role-playing Game Echoes of Hope

This study explores how ongoing character creation mechanics in analog role-playing games (RPGs) can support cultural identity exploration among young people from culturally diverse backgrounds. Using a transformative game design framework and research through design approach, this project involved the creation and iterative testing of Echoes of Hope, a one-shot freeform role-playing game set in Soviet-era Estonia. The game’s design emphasized a step-by-step character exploration, interpersonal discussions of societal changes, meta-reflection prompting mechanics and real-time decision-making based on personal and social dilemmas. The game development consisted of five game design sessions, tracking the process with a detailed game design log, two playtesting events with multicultural youth aged 16-20 and two prototype iteration sessions following each playtest. The findings suggest that the applied “fact-reveal” mechanic, combined with lifelike dilemmas and a relatable socio-historical context, can spark reflection on players’ own cultural identities and belonging. The study concludes that analog role-playing games, when intentionally designed with a player-centered approach, can be used for cultural identity exploration in educational and youth work contexts with players not experienced in role-playing.