What if playing a game on your phone could help scientists understand how diseases spread—and even prevent the next pandemic?

Welcome to Epigames, a new kind of app built on the Epidemica platform from the Colubri Lab at the University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, co-creators and developers of the award-winning Operation Outbreak app.

In this app-based experience, your phone becomes part of a simulated outbreak in real-life. You’ll make decisions, interact with others, and see the spread of a digital “pathogen” play out in front of your eyes. But don’t worry—there’s no real virus involved. Just a unique opportunity to be part of cutting-edge science while having fun.

Why it matters
Human behavior is one of the biggest unknowns in how infectious diseases spread. When do people choose to avoid others? How does risk perception, incentives, and social norms influence our actions during an outbreak? Traditional methods can’t capture this complexity. That’s where Epigames comes in.

By participating in one of our app-based simulations, you’re helping researchers study real-world interaction patterns in schools, workplaces, conferences, and more. This anonymous data helps scientists build better models of disease spread—models that could guide public health decisions in the future and save lives.

What you’ll do:
• Join a simulated outbreak together with other participants and watch your actions shape the outcome.
• Make decisions about who to interact with, how to protect yourself, and how to earn points.
• Experience how your network changes in response to simulated risk and real choices.

It’s not just a fun app—it’s an experiment in collective intelligence, behavior, and resilience.

Designed for your privacy
Epigames is built with privacy and security at its core:
• No personal or identifiable information is collected.
• Your phone communicates only with nearby devices via anonymous Bluetooth signals.
• All data is securely stored using encrypted, cloud-based infrastructure.
• You are always in control and can leave the simulated outbreak at any time.

Who should play?
Students, conference attendees, science lovers, curious minds—anyone who wants to contribute to solving a real-world problem through a fun, engaging experience. Whether at school, at a conference, or at an event with friends, your participation matters!

Broad Institute

Additional Information