Local reality puzzle game inspired by post-pandemic social anxiety — calling for youngsters to venture into Wah Fu Estate

“Social anxiety” has been the latest buzzword, regardless of background or personality, everyone faces it to varying extents. For secondary school students that went through three years of online classes during the pandemic, with limited social gatherings, picking up their social life again has been a big challenge. “They lack the opportunity to develop problem-solving skills through social interactions growing up.” With this in mind, social enterprise Wander with Wonder Limited designed “The Wah Fu-ers”, an original reality puzzle game that drives youngsters to interact with their peers in person, while getting to know the community through play.

The game consists of six key elements, including community exploration, teamwork, role-play, puzzle-solving, non-player character (NPC) and chatbot. The scene is set at Wah Fu Estate, a public housing estate known for its million-dollar views. Project creator Wendy believes that its history and stories are as fascinating as the views. “Wah Fu Estate is over 50 years old. It is not just a witness for the generations of families that have dwelled here, but also a collective memory for Hongkongers. Those myths surrounding the estate, like UFO sightings, add suspense and fun to the game.”

By virtue of their innovative ideas and ability to address current issues, they were selected as one of the Incubatees of Impact Innovation Lab, receiving The Social Innovation and Entrepreneurship Development Fund to realise their project. Wendy noted that they gained more from consultants’ sharing and networking in the process. “For the development of Chatbot, for example, we told Cyron (Executive Director of MakerBay Foundation) about our needs, and he got the ideal service provider for us, which saved us tons of time. Thanks to his recommendation, we were also in touch with another game development company, to try their reality puzzle game. These connections are valuable assets that we could not have obtained on our own.”

Launched in January this year, the game allows players to form their own team or join one, which then they follow the clues and look around the estate, to solve the puzzles. In those 2.5 hours of gameplay, team members have to interact with residents to obtain the clues, utilise their expertise for the team, and work towards the same goal. Stage by stage, success accumulates, as do confidence and friendship. Teammates that started off as strangers may become friends after the game, going for afternoon tea and visiting waterfall together.

In six months, more than 180 youngsters set foot in Wah Fu Estate for the game. Wendy admitted that we cannot rely on one project to break social isolation, but the positive feedback from players motivates her to set future plans for the project. “I feel so touched and grateful. The next episode of ‘The Wah Fu-ers’ is coming up, which will welcome players of all ages and backgrounds, hoping to build stronger social cohesion.” As of the day the article was published, the next episode has launched. The team hopes to develop various versions of the game that cater to the needs of different players, and cover different corners of Hong Kong, so that we will meet again.

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Ms. Angie Zhou

Education Specialist

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Angie Zhou is an Education Specialist at MIT App Inventor. She was the founder and CEO of Dreams Come True in Shenzhen, where she developed online coding courses for kids. She also has previous curriculum development, teaching and staff training experience at First Code Academy in Hong Kong.