In a move that has sparked outrage in Northern Ireland, a US game company has unveiled plans for a board game based on the decades-long conflict known as the Troubles. The game, titled “The Troubles: Shadow War in Northern Ireland 1964-1998,” allows players to assume the roles of various factions, including the IRA, British security forces, and loyalist paramilitaries, as they navigate the complex political and security landscape of the region.
The game, which is still in development, has been condemned by victims’ rights groups in Northern Ireland, who argue that it oversimplifies a deeply traumatic period and could retraumatise those affected by the conflict. Kenny Donaldson of the South East Fermanagh Foundation said the game “over-simplifies what is a very complex issue” and that victims and survivors could feel “triggered” by the experience.
Bill Thomas, the founder and president of Compass Games, the company behind the game, has defended the project, stating that it is intended to “protect history, not to make fun of it.” He explained that the game, which features over 200 pages of rules and a “historical playbook,” aims to provide an accurate depiction of the Troubles for an audience that may be unfamiliar with the region’s history.
However, critics argue that the game’s design, which includes features such as “nutting squads,” “snipers at work,” and the notorious IRA informant known as “Stakeknife,” trivialises the conflict and its lasting impact on Northern Irish society. Donaldson drew a comparison to the potential reaction of 9/11 families if a similar game were made about the terrorist attacks.
The game’s designer, Hugh O’Donnell, a secondary school teacher in Scotland, has sought to trace the origins of the Troubles back to the 1886 Home Rule bill, in an effort to provide historical context. But many in Northern Ireland argue that the game fails to adequately capture the complex social, political, and religious tensions that fuelled the conflict.
As the game continues to undergo development and playtesting, the controversy surrounding its existence highlights the ongoing sensitivity and divisiveness of the Troubles in Northern Ireland. Victims’ groups and others have called for the game to be abandoned, arguing that it cannot do justice to the profound human suffering and enduring legacy of the conflict.