Terra Nordica: The Nordic Land-Negotiation Game

Explore how communities can navigate the green transition — through play.

Terra Nordica is an interactive role-play game that simulates land-use negotiations in fictional Nordic communities facing real-world dilemmas of the green transition. Players take on the role of local actors—municipal leaders, planners, and residents—tasked with making tough decisions about where to locate wind parks, how to invest revenues, and how to balance environmental, social, and economic considerations.

The game draws directly on Nordregio’s research on just green transition, rural development, and land-use planning. It was developed as an alternative form of publication under the Nordic Thematic Group for Green and Inclusive Rural Development (2021–2024) to encourage dialogue, reflection, and learning in a more interactive format. It was played by a big group of policy makers for the first time at Nordregio Forum 2024.

Set in richly imagined communities: from a fjordside Norwegian town to a Northern region navigating mining investments, the game invites players to test what fair and sustainable development might look like across different contexts.

Game background and development

Terra Nordica was designed by researcher Hilma Salonen, based on extensive Nordregio research, and developed in collaboration with Lisa Pelling (Arena Idé), Anne Katrine Ebbesen, Miia Itänen, Elin Slätmo and other colleagues. The game is designed for use in policy workshops, stakeholder dialogues, educational settings, or as a standalone learning tool.

Game materials are freely available for download and print.
All you need to play is a group of people, the printable kit, and a standard set of polyhedral dice.

Step into the story. Negotiate the future. Reflect on what a just green transition really takes.