[DIGITAL Business Africa] – Psyon Games, a health games studio based in Helsinki, Finland, announced on March 11, 2025, an initiative to leverage the power of digital games to raise awareness about the Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) and promote life-saving vaccinations.
The Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) is a common viral infection affecting skin and mucous membranes. There are over 100 types of HPV, some being higher risk than others. Certain types of HPV, known as high-risk types, can lead to precancerous lesions and cancers, particularly cervical cancer. Vaccination is an effective way to protect against the most dangerous types of HPV. Raising awareness about this can be done through video games.
Psyon Games is a Finnish game studio dedicated to improving people’s health behaviors through games for awareness, diagnosis, and therapy. The studio collaborates with researchers, NGOs, governments, patients, healthcare professionals, and the healthcare and life sciences industries.
The project, currently in its feasibility study phase funded by the Gates Foundation, aims to demonstrate the effectiveness of digital games in educating the public about HPV, a virus affecting over 80% of sexually active individuals. While most cases are harmless, HPV can lead to cervical cancer, a preventable disease that tragically claims the lives of women worldwide, particularly in low- and middle-income countries.
“Games have a unique ability to transform complex health challenges into engaging experiences,” said Olli Rundgren, Founder & CEO of Psyon Games. For him, “this collaboration combines global health expertise with innovative game design to tackle HPV vaccination barriers. By merging behavioral science with interactive design, we plan to create a tool that amplifies HPV vaccination awareness in ways traditional campaigns cannot.”
Psyon Games believes that the immersive and engaging nature of games, played by billions across diverse demographics, offers a powerful platform to explore health-related topics. The studio aims to develop a game-based strategy featuring interactive characters to enhance HPV vaccination campaigns, primarily focusing on Sub-Saharan Africa, a region with the highest prevalence of cervical HPV globally. The game will be available in multiple languages to ensure broad accessibility.
Creating a Vaccine Awareness Tool
The studio has a proven track record in developing impactful health games. Their previous game, “Antidote COVID-19,” created in partnership with organizations like WHO, Gavi, and Unicef Finland, was the only COVID-19-themed game approved by significant platforms during the pandemic. Academic studies have validated its ability to foster engagement and positive learning experiences.
Psyon Games asserts that game-based health awareness methods can achieve significantly higher engagement rates and longer-lasting impacts than traditional campaigns. These games can also enhance other campaign elements, such as social media reach and web traffic, providing sustained value for schools, healthcare professionals, and community health programs.
After completing the feasibility study in mid-2025, Psyon Games will seek further funding to develop and deploy the full-scale HPV awareness game. The project will be developed closely with key stakeholders, including subject matter experts, public health organizations, NGOs, governments, educators, community leaders, parents, healthcare providers, and the intended vaccination cohorts, ensuring cultural, contextual, and scientific relevance.
“Our mission is to create the most impactful vaccine awareness tool ever, increasing campaign effectiveness by 10–30 times compared to traditional methods,” Rundgren added.
Psyon Games invites new partners to join this initiative, reflecting a broader effort to address global health challenges through innovative technology and interactive experiences.
Crucial Cultural Contribution with a Cameroonian
Through Joinplay Games, a division of Noohkema Interactive Inc., Cameroonian Michel Nkuindja, who indicates he has been co-opted as a cultural consultant for this HPV Vaccine Awareness Game Initiative project, intends to play his part in the success of this initiative.
“My role will be to ensure the experience is immersive, authentic, and engaging by integrating visuals inspired by African arts and textiles, narratives rooted in oral traditions, and an inclusive linguistic approach. The goal is to create a game that effectively raises awareness about vaccination while highlighting the continent’s cultural richness,” says Michel Nkuindja.
By Digital Business Africa, Source: Psyon Games
