Antidote COVID-19, a new mobile game created in collaboration with the World Health Organization (WHO), aims to boost COVID-19 vaccine awareness and counter misinformation while being both fun and entertaining.

Developed by Psyon Games, a Finnish startup specializing in science and health games, Antidote COVID-19 is a tower defense game where the player helps the human immune system fight off waves of attack from bacteria and viruses, including SARS-CoV-2, the coronavirus behind the COVID-19 pandemic. The game recruits you to join Antidote Laboratories just before the COVID-19 pandemic hits and players are tasked with helping halt the spread of SARS-CoV-2. Through this journey, players will learn about their immune system, all kinds of pathogens, vaccines, and ways to protect themselves from COVID-19.

It’s a fun, action-packed, and colorful adventure full of cute characters and dastardly villains. Importantly, too, it’s steeped in science and fact. Psyon Games developed Antidote COVID-19 in collaboration with the WHO, UNICEF Finland, and Gavi – The Vaccine Alliance, a global health partnership with the goal of increasing access to immunization in developing countries. To ensure the science in the game was spot on, they also sought the advice of a number of public health experts to double-check the validity of the science interwoven into the game.

Launched with the #iamtheshield campaign, the game hopes to spread two key messages: firstly, get vaccinated; secondly, learn the facts to counter misinformation. By communicating this message through a mobile game, they hope to particularly catch the attention of young people. While younger people are generally assumed to be more “digitally literate” than older generations, influencer culture and social media still perpetuate misinformation, "fake news," and conspiracy theories. When it comes to the COVID-19 pandemic, this kind of disinformation can be a major driver of vaccine hesitancy in young people, which remains a huge hurdle in the battle against COVID-19. 

“Despite the fact that vaccination rates are on the rise globally, there are also alarming signs of vaccine-related passivity, especially among the youth. It doesn’t seem to be a matter of active resistance but rather a belief that getting vaccinated against COVID-19 is somehow unnecessary. However the reality is that we need everybody on board to put a stop to this pandemic and to return to normal," says Olli Rundgren, CEO of Psyon Games.

“Globally, including in countries where COVID-19 vaccines are widely available, misinformation is hindering vaccine acceptance and broader public health efforts,” adds Andy Pattison, Team Lead, Digital Channels at the WHO. “Games like the Antidote COVID-19 can help people digest complex scientific information about the virus while building up their resistance to misinformation on COVID-19 protective measures like masks and vaccines in engaging ways, in the palms of their hands."

Head over to the iOS App Store or the Google Play Store for Android to download the game for free and get ready to take on COVID-19 in a safe and entertaining format. 

Sponsor content: This article is written in paid partnership with Psyon Games.