So You Want to Be an American?

2024
BGG Average Rating
9.5
community average
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Players
1-5
Weight
N/A
Playtime
30 min
Age
12+

⚙️ Game Mechanics

How this game works - core systems and player actions

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📖 About This Game

So you want to be an American? You'll have to navigate the U.S. immigration system first, with all of its twists, turns, and obstacles. Each player's path through the game is their own; there is no competition between players to get to the end. Everyone has the same goal: to become a U.S. citizen. Learn what it takes to get there, and decide for yourself: Does this system work? This game is designed for people 12 and up, and is specifically recommended for those with birthright or inherited U.S. citizenship. It is a reflection of the system in real life, in the probability of success, time spent on the journey (1 turn = 1 year), unanticipated events, and real citizenship test questions. The game has been vetted by people who have experienced the U.S. immigration system firsthand within the last 30 years. It is a primer on how the legal immigration system works, and promotes empathy for the ways in which different identity factors can affect how challenging and how long of a process different people have to go through to become citizens. The game is designed to be played multiple times, with different starting identity characteristics each time. So You Want to Be an American? is for 1-5 players, and is ideal for families, classrooms, or educational programs seeking to inspire civic engagement. —description from the designer