Why Colony Simulators Teach Systems Thinking

Colony simulators—games like RimWorld, Oxygen Not Included, and Dwarf Fortress—are more than just digital sandboxes where players manage tiny societies. Beneath their pixelated surfaces lies a complex web of interconnected systems, each influencing the other in subtle and profound ways. These games don’t just entertain; they teach players to think in terms of systems, fostering an intuitive understanding of cause and effect, resource management, and emergent complexity.

Feedback Loops and Cascading Consequences

One of the core lessons of colony simulators is the concept of feedback loops. Players quickly learn that small decisions—like neglecting to stockpile food or overmining a mountain—can spiral into catastrophic failures. A single missed harvest might lead to starvation, which weakens colonists, reducing productivity and triggering further shortages. Conversely, well-managed systems reinforce themselves: a stable food supply keeps workers healthy, allowing them to expand production and secure more resources.

These games mirror real-world systems, where actions ripple outward in unpredictable ways. By forcing players to anticipate second- and third-order effects, colony simulators train the mind to see beyond immediate outcomes and consider long-term sustainability.

Interconnected Systems and Trade-Offs

Colony simulators excel at illustrating how different systems depend on one another. In Oxygen Not Included, for example, oxygen generation requires power, which relies on fuel, which depends on labor and infrastructure. Every choice involves trade-offs: diverting resources to build a hospital might mean delaying a farm expansion, risking food shortages later.

This dynamic teaches players to weigh opportunity costs—a fundamental skill in systems thinking. There’s rarely a “perfect” solution, only a series of compromises where optimizing one area may destabilize another. Players learn to balance short-term needs with long-term goals, much like engineers, economists, or policymakers must do in reality.

Emergent Behavior and Adaptability

Perhaps the most fascinating aspect of colony simulators is their emergent complexity. Simple rules combine to create unpredictable scenarios: a colonist’s emotional breakdown might start a fight, injuring others, delaying construction, and weakening defenses just before a raid. These emergent narratives reinforce the idea that systems are more than the sum of their parts.

Players must adapt to these surprises, learning to build resilient systems that can withstand shocks. This adaptability is key to systems thinking—recognizing that no plan survives contact with reality, and flexibility is essential for managing dynamic environments.

Conclusion: From Pixels to Principles

Colony simulators are stealthy teachers. While players focus on keeping their virtual settlers alive, they’re unknowingly internalizing the principles of systems thinking: understanding feedback loops, navigating trade-offs, and adapting to emergent challenges. These skills translate far beyond gaming, offering valuable insights into economics, ecology, and even personal decision-making.

So the next time your dwarves starve because you forgot to brew ale, or your space colony suffocates due to a poorly placed oxygen diffuser, remember: you’re not just failing a game. You’re learning how systems work—one disastrous, illuminating mistake at a time.