FinGR Play

FinGR Play is an interactive online educational game designed to develop financial literacy among students and young people (recommended for upper primary school students) through the simulation of real-life financial decisions within the context of an average Czech family. The program aims to provide participants with practical experience in managing household finances, planning financial flows, and understanding the long-term consequences of various financial decisions. The game combines learning with entertainment, allowing players to develop responsible financial behavior, strategic planning, and investment decision-making in a safe virtual environment without the risk of real losses. The program can be flexibly used in schools, workshops, or as an individual learning tool.

Key Activities and Student Experience
The main objective of FinGR Play is to guide players through thirty years of a Czech family’s life, divided into ten game rounds, each representing a three-year period. During the game, participants manage the family’s income and expenses, make decisions regarding savings, investments, insurance, and loans, and respond to randomly generated life events. The primary goals of the game include acquiring a home, saving for children’s education, and ensuring sufficient financial reserves for retirement. Players must plan and continuously adjust their strategies to achieve all goals within the set timeframes while balancing short-term needs with long-term financial growth.

Participants have access to a wide range of financial instruments, including savings accounts, term deposits, mutual funds, stocks, bonds, consumer loans, and mortgages. The game also involves decisions about insurance, including property, liability, and life insurance. Setting up regular monthly savings or investments allows players to understand compound interest, the impact of market fluctuations, and the importance of risk management. Random life events, such as unexpected expenses or market changes, challenge players to adapt their strategies, enhancing critical thinking and problem-solving skills.

The game supports experiential learning, allowing participants to see the direct consequences of their financial decisions in a dynamic simulation. Players learn to analyze trade-offs between immediate consumption and long-term savings, understand the impact of loans and interest rates, and experience the value of strategic planning. They develop the ability to anticipate financial risks, evaluate investment options, and optimize the household budget to achieve life goals.

Program Features and Principles
FinGR Play combines traditional financial education with modern digital technologies and emphasizes ethical and responsible financial behavior. The program’s principles include a practical approach, the development of critical thinking, adaptability to unexpected situations, and enhancement of digital competencies. The program is flexible, enabling teachers and trainers to tailor activities to the specific needs of a group or class.

Methodology and Structure
The game is divided into ten thematic rounds, each representing a three-year period in the life of a family. Each round consists of several phases: setting financial transactions and products, responding to random life events, evaluating market developments, and obtaining results from investments and savings. This structured approach encourages systematic planning, decision-making under pressure, situational analysis, and risk evaluation. Players are motivated to monitor the outcomes of their decisions and learn from both successes and mistakes, strengthening their critical thinking and financial literacy.

Expected Outcomes and Value
Participants gain fundamental financial knowledge and skills, learning to plan income and expenses, understand the importance of investments and insurance, and critically evaluate financial information. The game also fosters ethical and responsible behavior, confidence in managing personal finances, and long-term strategic planning skills. The program aims not only to educate players but also to provide teachers and trainers with tools, methodological materials, and experiences from interactive activities that can be effectively applied in their own teaching.

FinGR Play is freely available online, offering a playful yet realistic approach to financial education and enabling participants to compare results with other players, thereby promoting competitiveness and motivation to develop financial skills.