Alternative Game Boards | Enhance Learning, Play Today — Transforming cyber risk into learning

Riskio Alternative Game Boards

Riskio can be played using different board layouts, depending on the learning environment and the type of discussion you want to create. Each board offers a slightly different way to explore how risk moves, how decisions shape outcomes, and how organisations respond under pressure.

These alternative boards keep the game flexible, accessible, and adaptable to a wide range of teaching scenarios.

Fictional Organisation Boards

One option is to base the game on a fictional organisation, such as a University Fees Office, a Local Council Service Desk, or a Small Retail Business. These settings give players a familiar context and help them anchor threats and decisions in day‑to‑day operations.

Fictional boards work well for:

introductory sessions
mixed‑experience groups
workshops focused on business processes rather than technical detail

They encourage players to think about how risk affects real people, services, and responsibilities.

Player‑Created Boards

Another approach is to let players create their own board by sketching a simple network, workflow, or data‑flow diagram. This mirrors the method used in Microsoft’s Elevation of Privilege game, where teams map out a system and then explore weaknesses.

Player‑created boards are ideal for:

technical students
design‑phase discussions
teams familiar with architecture or system modelling

This method encourages deeper thinking about assets, trust boundaries, dependencies, and attack paths.

Scenario‑Driven Boards

You can also use boards built around specific scenarios — for example:

a ransomware outbreak
a supplier compromise
an insider threat
a critical system outage

Scenario boards help players explore how risk escalates, how decisions interact, and how resilience is built over time. They work well for focused workshops or thematic learning sessions.

Choosing the Right Board

Each board type offers a different learning experience:

Fictional boards make risk relatable
Player‑created boards make risk structural
Scenario boards make risk dynamic

Facilitators can choose the board that best fits their audience, time, and learning goals. All boards use the same Riskio cards and mechanics, keeping the game simple and consistent.