A Critique of Invaders! by PBS Kids

 Game Metadata

• Title: Invaders!
• Designer/Developer: PBS Kids
• Platform: Browser-based (accessible via PBS Kids website)
• High-Level Instructional Goal: Invaders! is intended to introduce young players to the concept of invasive species and their impact on native ecosystems, challenging them to remove harmful non-native organisms.
• Game Link: Invaders!

Educational Goals

The primary goal of Invaders! is to raise ecological awareness by introducing young players to the problem of invasive species and their impact on native ecosystems. The game does not require any prior scientific knowledge, making it accessible to children. It presents the idea that non-native species can upset the balance within an ecosystem. For example, rabbits in Australian deserts endanger native species like kangaroos, spinifex mice, and neverfail grass. In doing so, the game encourages players to develop a basic understanding of ecological imbalance, which could later transfer to more advanced discussions in science class or environmental studies. While it introduces these basic concepts, the game mainly focuses on quickly identifying and removing invaders, missing an opportunity to delve into more complex discussions about ecosystem management or the role of native species in maintaining ecological balance. Therefore, while it raises awareness, its scope for promoting deeper environmental literacy and transfer to other real-world contexts is limited.

Game Elements

The gameplay in Invaders! is fast-paced and visually engaging, drawing comparisons to games like Fruit Ninja. At the very beginning, the game provides a definition of invasive species (plants or animals that don't belong in the original ecosystem that are brought in from other places either on purpose or by accident). Players are then shown cartoon drawings of native species and are later confronted with circles containing drawings of both native and invasive species. They must tap rapidly to remove the invasive ones from view. The challenge increases not through escalating difficulty, but through the addition of more native species, which creates visual clutter and makes it harder to spot the invaders. When players successfully remove an invader, a knife-cutting sound and bubble animation confirm their correct action, whereas tapping on a native species triggers an error sound. Once all the invaders are eliminated, the player gets a summary of the invaders they eliminated and moves on to a new ecosystem. If the player fails to remove the invaders, they will see that populations of native species decrease, while the populations of invasive species increase, and if the population of invaders meets a certain threshold, the player will be prompted to try again. Although these immediate audiovisual cues keep the game dynamic and engaging, they also emphasize speed and reaction time over any deeper strategic thinking or understanding of the ecological concepts at play.

Learning Mechanisms

Invaders! uses a variety of learning science principles to create a dynamic, interactive experience, though its primary focus remains on speed and reaction rather than deeper conceptual understanding. At the very start, the game offers a clear definition of invasive species, tapping into the Pretraining principle by providing essential background information. This initial definition helps activate learners’ prior knowledge, an application of the Activate Preconceptions principle, which prepares them to contextualize new material. As the game progresses, players are presented with cartoon drawings of native species before being challenged to identify and tap circles containing both native and invasive species. The gameplay itself emphasizes Immediate Feedback Timing: when players successfully remove an invader, they are rewarded with a knife-cutting sound and bubble animation, while mistakes trigger an error sound. This quick feedback supports the Feedback principle by reinforcing correct actions instantly. However, the game does not provide any scaffolding to deepen the player’s understanding; there’s no explanation for why a particular species is harmful or how it disrupts the ecosystem, nor does it offer strategies for managing invasive species. This lack of contextual information means that players can often succeed by random tapping rather than through thoughtful engagement with the subject matter.

Overall Critique

Invaders! is a fun and visually engaging game for kids to learn the concept of invasive species and their impact on native ecosystems. The game’s clear definition of invasive species and use of cartoon imagery make it accessible to children, while its fast-paced, reaction-based gameplay is reminiscent of games like Fruit Ninja. This design choice effectively grabs attention and reinforces basic concepts through immediate audiovisual feedback, such as knife-cutting sounds and bubble animations when invaders are removed. However, while the game succeeds in raising awareness about ecological imbalance, its emphasis on speed over substance leaves little room for deeper learning or critical thinking about environmental issues.

To increase its educational impact, Invaders! could benefit from several improvements. One effective addition would be brief debriefs or pop-up messages after each level that explain the ecological consequences of invasive species. For example, after players complete a level, a short summary could highlight how invasive rabbits impact native populations like kangaroos and spinifex mice, helping to connect the gameplay to real-world ecological issues. Including simple reflective questions (such as “Why do you think this species caused harm?") could encourage kids to think more critically about the choices they make, rather than just responding to visual cues. The game could also better apply the Guided Attention principle by prompting players to notice specific in-game patterns, such as the decrease in native species populations as invasive species numbers rise, helping them link their actions to observable ecological consequences.

Another potential enhancement is to introduce strategic elements into the gameplay. Instead of relying solely on rapid tapping, the game could occasionally offer players a choice between different management strategies, for example, introducing a natural predator or restoring native habitats, to deal with the invasion. This would not only add depth to the game but also help players develop a deeper understanding of ecosystem management, bridging the gap between a simple reaction game and real-world environmental problem-solving.

By incorporating these elements, Invaders! could evolve into a more comprehensive educational tool that not only captures attention but also encourages critical thinking and transferable skills in environmental literacy.