Shapes and Ladders

Ani Liu

About this game

Shapes and Ladders is a video game that shows how systemic racism and sexism can exist in the workplace. Set in the metaphor of a career ladder, players attempt to navigate through an office building rife with challenges.

Players can play as a circle, square, or triangle, for which game mechanics have been designed to reflect real life inequalities different populations face (ie, a circle is more likely to encounter workplace sexual assault, and has access to fewer coins).

The video game is designed to allow players to cultivate empathy through a first person simulation of structural inequality. It is our hope that these insights can inspire players to spark change in real life.