Work Flow is a game that was created in collaboration with the UNDP Bhutan as a playful and innovative way to help address youth unemployment in Bhutan. Like many other countries, unemployment in Bhutan disproportionately affects youth (ages 16-26 years), especially those living in the capital city, Thimphu. The game can be played with 8 – 30 people and relies on role playing and strategy elements as players strive to acquire skills, training, and build networks that will help them to find opportunities for employment. At the same time, players negotiate whether or not to remain in the town where they begin the game or migrate to other locations to find more resources or opportunities.

Work Flow grew out of a digital game that was played in in Bhutan and facilitated by the UNDP and the Engagement Lab called Community PlanIt: Youth@Work Bhutan. We used player input gathered in that game to source content for Work Flow. The sharing of personal experiences and building peer-to-peer networks for collaboration and support emerged as some of the most vital and meaningful aspects of the digital game. Work Flow relies on typical situations described by real world input from youth in Bhutan to create characters in the game that will resonate with players as they negotiate their strategy for finding resources and winning the game. Furthermore, the kinds of conversations and ideation that emerges during gameplay can lead to real world peer-to-peer networks for support and collaboration that go beyond the game itself.