Created in partnership with More Perfect, this interactive game helps middle and high school students navigate the complexities and competing values of the rule of law.
CAMBRIDGE, Mass. – Aug. 10, 2026 – iCivics has launched Rule Play, a new interactive game that helps middle and high school students explore how the rule of law shapes everyday life.
Created through a partnership with More Perfect, this free game helps educators use relatable scenarios – such as dress codes in schools – that invite students to confront difficult choices, identify conflicting values, and discover how exactly they think about the rule of law.
The rule of law ensures that laws govern society equally and clearly, maintaining individual liberty and limiting the power of both those who govern and those who are governed. Educators need ways to help students examine democratic institutions and practices – their strengths and shortcomings – without classroom discussions becoming politically charged. Rule Play provides a neutral, constructive framework for exploring these questions, giving teachers a safe way to introduce nuance, encourage healthy debate, and help students understand the rule of law as an essential, but continually aspirational, democratic ideal.
Student input shaped Rule Play from its earliest stages. After iCivics consulted teachers about the challenges of teaching the rule of law, the team at iCivics presented initial concepts to a group of iCivics Student Fellows. The students emphasized that the game’s stories needed to reflect experiences relevant to their daily lives, such as driving, school rules, and curfews. They later playtested the developing game and provided feedback that influenced everything from the scenarios and on-screen choice mechanics to the game’s title.
“We designed Rule Play in collaboration with both students and educators because our users are the best judges of what is relevant to their lives,” iCivics CEO Louise Dubé said. “We are thrilled with the result. Rule Play makes the importance and goals of the rule of law tangible to learners.”
Designed to be completed in approximately 15 minutes, Rule Play places students in relatable rule-of-law scenarios, including the inconsistent enforcement of a school dress code and the unequal application of a youth curfew.
After reading each scenario, players choose how to respond by swiping left, right, or down. There is no obviously right or wrong answer; instead, each choice reflects one or more of five equally important factors: Equality of Law, Clear and Accessible Laws, Judicial Independence, Fair Legal Processes, and Limited and Accountable Government. At the end, players receive a personalized profile showing which factors they gravitated toward most and watch a short explainer video on that factor. Students can play again to see how different choices produce different outcomes.
“A democracy is only as strong as the citizens who understand it,” said John Bridgeland, Founder and CEO of More Perfect. “Rule Play helps students see the rule of law not as an abstraction but as something that shapes their daily lives and depends on their participation. That is the kind of civic learning our country needs right now and that we are proud to support.”
Rule Play is shorter and more streamlined than a traditional iCivics game but maintains the same focus on meaningful choices and clearly defined learning objectives. It helps students understand how the rule of law limits power, protects individual rights, preserves the common good, and affects everyday life. By asking students to weigh imperfect options rather than search for a single correct answer, the game creates space for deeper engagement with the gray areas that make the rule of law both challenging and consequential.
The complete experience includes individual videos about each rule-of-law factor, a five-minute video covering all five factors, and a streamlined two-page Teacher Guide featuring additional real-world scenarios and ready-to-use discussion questions. Teachers can use the game as a bell-ringer, transition activity, introduction to a new unit, or starting point for a broader classroom discussion.
Rule Play is available at iCivics.org/rule-play.
