5 game apps for the environment recommended by 3Bee

Data on environmental apps show a growing interest and usage, especially among the younger generations, who are increasingly aware of the importance of sustainability. According to Adjust's report "Mobile App Trends 2023", apps that promote sustainable lifestyles and environmental awareness are gaining in popularity, with an increase in the amount of time these apps are used. Sessions in apps dedicated to sustainability are growing by 7% in 2023, reflecting a global trend towards more sustainable practices supported by technology. In addition, apps that combine education and sustainability through gamification - so-called game apps - are proving particularly popular, especially among families and schools that are increasingly looking for innovative tools to raise awareness among young people. Therefore, we decided to select five of the most popular and interactive game apps to help protect the environment.

Biodiversa is the free game app for the monitoring of biodiversity and the protection of ecosystems that allows you to 'collect' and easily identify the plants you come across during an outdoor walk. An ambitious citizen science project aims to create a cooperative archive dedicated to flora in Europe, involving player users with challenges to catalogue species, some of which are rare or endangered. Available for iOS and Android, Biodiversa has a dynamic similar to that of some well-known free-to-play video games that encourage moving and travelling in the real world to 'collect' characters. As of 9 September 2024, the "Biodiversa Heroes" sweepstakes will start: each new and different plant photographed and captured earns a point and climbs the leaderboard, to try to win fantastic prizes. The aim is to reward the most 'biodiverse' nature explorers.

MeteoHeroes is an educational game app designed to teach children the importance of meteorology and climate change. Through adventures and missions, young users transform themselves into heroes who protect the planet from extreme weather phenomena. Each hero represents a natural element and the challenges are designed to teach children how climate affects the health of our planet. MeteoHeroes is a playful and educational tool that raises awareness of crucial environmental issues among the younger generation, making learning fun and engaging. In fact, the app has already won over a large community of young users.

MayDay Earth is an app dedicated to signalling and geolocalising environmental emergencies. Users can create 'maydays', initiating campaigns to safeguard the territory, such as collecting rubbish or protecting areas at risk. The app allows users to map environmental criticalities and involve local communities in their resolution. Thanks to MayDay Earth, anyone can become a guardian of the land, actively contributing to environmental protection. The simple and intuitive interface makes it easy to participate and follow ongoing campaigns, turning every action into a small but significant step for our planet.

AWorld is the official platform supporting ACTNOW, the United Nations campaign for individual action on climate change and sustainability. The app invites users to take small daily actions to reduce their environmental impact and allows them to track the results, providing precise metrics of the savings generated (e.g. litres of water consumed, waste produced...). AWorld turns good practices into a game, rewarding virtuous behaviour with points and medals. Collective challenges make the experience even more stimulating, with the goal of saving resources by the community, with a key gamification component. The game app also offers educational content to explore issues related to sustainability.

Junker is the app that helps you do your selective waste collection easily, quickly and, above all, without mistakes. Simply scan the barcode of a product to find out which bins to throw it in, eliminating any doubts about proper waste management. Junker also provides detailed information on materials and offers tips to reduce daily waste. The app allows you to contribute to a cleaner world, making recycling an intuitive process within everyone's reach. Simply activate geolocation to know how to sort waste according to the rules of the area in which a person is located. An essential support for those who want to respect the environment by sorting waste consciously and correctly.