Bringing Games to Life: An Interview with Micha Reimer, CEO of Gaiagames

At MetStudios, we love seeing games that do more than entertain—they make an impact. That’s why we were thrilled to sit down with Micha Reimer, CEO of Gaiagames, to discuss Ecogon, an eco-themed board game that blends strategy with real-world ecological principles. With artwork contributed by our very own Brighton Head of School, Rosemary Chalmers, Ecogon is a perfect example of how games can be both visually stunning and deeply meaningful. In this interview, Micha shares his journey into game design, the challenges of balancing sustainability with gameplay, and advice for aspiring game designers looking to create with purpose.

Can you start by telling us a bit about yourself and your journey into game design? What inspired you to pursue this path?

As far back as I can remember, I’ve always designed or modified my own games. When I have a desire that can’t be satisfied by existing options, I simply create it myself to fulfill that need. Fortunately, my passion for art and design has always helped me bring these ideas to life.

What led you to create Ecogon, and how did the idea for an eco-themed board game come about?

During my studies in nature conservation, I developed a desire to showcase the fascinating beauty of the natural world through games. In the end, humans only protect, what they know and like. Around 2012, most games were centred around fantasy, sci-fi, or historical themes, so I decided to combine my three passions—nature, gaming, and art—and began conceptualising a game focused on real animals and plants entangled in an ecosystems. My peers found the idea interesting and encouraged me to continue. With their positive feedback, I decided to pursue the project further, working on the idea and developing prototypes. In 2015, I launched a successful crowdfunding campaign to turn it into a fully realised game.

How has your background, education, or personal interests influenced the way you approach game design?

Compared to the typical approach in board game development, I do things a bit differently. For me, it all starts with a topic or theme—something I believe people should know about. From there, I extract game mechanics that align with the subject matter. In the board game industry, it’s often the opposite: developers think of a game mechanic first and then layer a theme on top. In my opinion, this can feel somewhat hollow. I believe that theme and mechanics should be as intertwined as possible, creating a deeper, more meaningful experience.

Ecogon stands out for its focus on sustainability. How did you balance educational elements with an engaging player experience?

Sustainability holds many dimensions for Gaiagames. First and foremost, a game has to be entertaining enough to be played again and again. Even if the game is produced as environmentally friendly as possible, it’s still not beneficial to nature if it’s only played once and then collects dust. The second key factor is the message—the outcome of playing the game. There needs to be added value! And that’s where the balance becomes tricky. Too much educational content can make a game feel boring, while too little undermines its purpose.

For Ecogon, I was fortunate to find a mechanism that successfully combines educational value with a satisfying tile-placement mechanic. It’s something that needs to be carefully considered with each new project!

What were some of the challenges you faced when incorporating environmental themes into the game design?

Creative freedom is more limited when working with realistic themes. For example, I can’t simply invent a species to improve game balance—I have to conduct thorough research to find an actual species that fits naturally into the game. Many other nature-themed games take a more flexible approach, bending reality to suit gameplay. However, I can’t do that because players might confuse the fictional elements with real-world facts, which goes against my goal of creating an authentic and educational experience.

Were there any specific design choices—mechanics, art style, or narrative—that you felt were crucial in reinforcing the game’s environmental message?

Inspired by Magic: The Gathering—which I started playing for its beautiful illustrations—I knew that Ecogon had to feature illustrations rather than photographs. This approach gives the game a more playful, artistic feel instead of a strictly educational one. The illustrations also needed to fit within the hexagonal grid, so they were carefully centred on each tile.

The color scheme had to look both natural and logical, so I was very specific with my colour choices. While other colors might have made it easier to maintain visual clarity, they would have detracted from the overall aesthetic and beauty of the game.
Mechanically, the event cards play a crucial role. They provide players with the “moment of understanding”—when they truly grasp what happens when an element is removed from their ecosystem.

Many of our students are passionate about designing games with meaning. What advice would you give them when trying to balance creativity with purpose?

When creating your own game, you start by including everything you want and feel is necessary for its purpose. However, it’s crucial to let go of some ideas along the way. A game designer’s job is to refine the game, filtering out all the “nice-to-haves” and focusing on the essentials. It’s all too easy to overpack a game with details, but true design lies in creating a streamlined, engaging experience.

Looking back at your journey, is there anything you wish you’d known when you first started designing games?

I’ve learned a lot! Since I didn’t study design professionally, I had to figure things out through trial and error. Over more than 10 years, I’ve refined my approach, and I now start new game projects very differently than I did in 2012. One key piece of advice: always keep your audience in mind—not just the players, but also the buyers. These can often be two different groups, and understanding both is crucial for a successful game.

Do you have any upcoming projects you’re excited about? Will sustainability continue to play a role in your future designs?

I’m actually working on two projects. One is a spin-off of Ecogon, featuring a prehistoric ecosystem with dinosaurs. The other is a digital version of Ecogon, designed as a trading card game (TCG) with some innovative ideas for acquiring new species in your collection.

How do you see the role of games evolving when it comes to addressing real-world challenges like climate change?

When done well, games are the perfect educational tool. While dry, bare information is everywhere, games have the unique ability to connect knowledge with emotions during gameplay. That’s where players can start applying what they’ve learned or experienced in real life, after the game is over.