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Celebrated investigative journalist Anas Aremeyaw Anas has unveiled a groundbreaking project that blends investigative reporting with interactive gaming, aimed at inspiring young people to confront corruption and social injustices.
The initiative, known as Floodlight Gaming, transforms real-life investigations into playable experiences. It allows gamers to assume the role of journalists tackling corruption, human rights violations, and environmental crimes, navigating the same ethical dilemmas and risks that real reporters face.
“For years, my team and I have risked everything to uncover corruption,” Anas said. “But sustaining change also means telling the truth in ways future generations can carry with them. Gaming offers a powerful way to achieve that.”
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Beyond games, Floodlight Gaming also hosts workshops where journalists, educators, human rights defenders, and developers collaborate on how to adapt investigative stories into formats that both educate and entertain.
The project was established by the Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project (OCCRP), the Gabo Foundation, and Anima Interactive, with support from partners including V-Ventures, SpielFabrique, Global Game Jam, Good Game Generation, and the International Game Developers Association (IGDA). These groups provided funding, mentorship, and creative expertise.
“Hunting the Hunter” Wins Top Award
At the inaugural Floodlight Investigative Journalism Gaming Summit held in Amsterdam on September 24, Berlin-based Greenwave Games clinched the top prize for its game “Hunting the Hunter.”
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Based on Anas’ undercover investigation into cocoa smuggling along Ghana’s western border, the game puts players in the shoes of a journalist unravelling a criminal network that harmed farmers, undermined the economy, and threatened national security. The studio received $5,000 and a spot in SpielFabrique’s Launchpad Program, which offers mentorship and development support.
“Hunting the Hunter winning this award is a powerful reminder that storytelling and innovation can join forces to inspire the next generation,” Anas said. “The fight against corruption can engage hearts and minds far beyond traditional journalism.”
Other Finalists
Five additional titles were shortlisted at the summit:
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Dark Money by Polyvale Studios, based on OCCRP’s Laundromat series
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Echoes: El Salvador by Stijn Verstraete, based on reporting by Juan José MartÃnez d’Aubuisson
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Rise of Viktor Orban by Pol Grasland-Mongrain and Dylhan “Zhanko” Phong, based on reporting by Andras Petho
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Cocoa Capture by Leto du Plessis, Damian Grobler, Matthew Carlton, Kairan Moorlach, and Cale Adamson, based on Anas’ investigations
The jury described Hunting the Hunter as “an impressive prototype for an open-world game that delivers a strong narrative and striking visuals.”
Co-founder of OCCRP and Floodlight Gaming, Paul Radu, said the goal is to give developers worldwide access to investigative journalism on organized crime and corruption. “We want to generate a new wave of games that serve the public interest. The submissions were incredible and elevated the reporting.”
Karla Reyes, founder of Anima Interactive, added: “Video games are one of the most powerful mediums for building empathy, bearing witness, and telling complex truths that often get sidelined. This project proves that journalism and gaming together can reach audiences in transformative ways.”
Story By: Afia Ohenewaa Akyerem