A video game is taking an unconventional and transgressive approach to educating audiences about school shootings. Led by the parents of a school shooting victim, the game challenges players to survive for ten minutes during an active shooter event.
The Final Exam was created by Manuel and Patricia Oliver, whose son Joaquin was tragically murdered in the 2018 shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida. The game, which was released through their gun reform organization Energy BBDO, simulates the experience their son went through without depictions of violence.
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The Final Exam is based on real data from school shootings. As players try to escape each stark scenario, they will encounter information on mass shootings and legislative solutions. Specific legislation the game highlights include an Assault Weapons Ban, Secure Storage – “Ethan’s Law”, Ban Of High Capacity Magazines, Universal Background Checks For All Gun Sales and Raise The Minimum Age to Purchase. Collecting these bills is the only way players can finish the game.
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“Ten minutes. That’s how long the average mass shooting lasts, and in this school, it’s also how long you have to escape,” the game’s description reads.
“Set in an American high school, The Final Exam places players in students’ shoes to experience a choice-driven survival game that mirrors the real-life decisions students must make during a mass shooting. As players navigate through emotionally charged scenarios like classrooms, lockers, and gyms, they confront the challenges and fears faced by students in a world where a shooter invades a place that is supposed to be a safe haven.
“With immersive storytelling and an audio-driven experience, players go through safety drills like building barricades, hiding in lockers, and crawling quietly to escape the school. However, the only true way to survive is by unlocking five gun control bills hidden throughout the school.”
Although the game leans heavily on immersion through environment and audio design, guns never make an appearance. The purpose is to inspire action and advocacy by confronting discomfort, not to exploit tragedy through gratuitous violence.
“The game is free of gore, violence, guns, and blood because it aims to be more than just a game; it’s a call to action,” the description continues. “By promoting discussions about gun control and community safety, the Final Exam forces adults to confront a harsh and, unfortunately, too common reality. It empowers players to think critically about the issues affecting their community, encouraging them to become advocates for change.”
The Final Exam is available for free on Windows PC platforms.
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