All it takes is a catchy title or a image well presented for information to leak into a conversation or onto social media. It's human, and it's happened to all of us. Except that online, what we share can go viral... even if it's completely false. And spotting fact from fiction isn't always easy. In this context, an original solution exists: Escape Fake. It's a free online game that puts you in the shoes of a young journalist on an internship. Your mission is to verify news before it's published. We tested it, and frankly, it's worth the detour.
A game born to raise awareness, not just to entertain
Remember the Charlie Hebdo affair? After the 2015 attacks, a question arose: how to reconnect citizens and the media To address this, the Ministry of Culture has launched a call for projects aimed at supporting local media, capable of providing information in a different way.
It is in this momentum that was born the Report'Cité association, and with it the game Escape Fake. The objective is clear: to give meaning to information and encourage critical thinking from a young age. Indeed, the game is aimed primarily at teenagers from 12 to 18 years, an audience particularly exposed to fake news about social media.
Rather than imposing a theoretical discourse on fake news, Report'Cité has chosen a different approach: through games. Escape Fake adopts the codes of escape games, but here, there are no puzzles or locks. Instead, you have news to check, an interactive messaging system, and a real editorial atmosphere.
On the site escape-fake.fr, you will discover the origins of the project, as well as Report'Cité's approach to media education. And to play directly, visit the official website.
How does Escape Fake work? Here's what you'll experience
Once on the Escape Fake website, you start by setting up your profile before you can play.
A seamless immersion in a fictional story
Before launching escape-fake, you choose a nickname, an avatar and a difficulty level. Then, Jeanne, the editor-in-chief, welcomes you in video and presents the rules of the internship to you. She then passes the baton to Sasha, the trainer, who confirms the instructions. Then Léo, another intern, sends you news to check. The interface is simple and well-designed: a news feed on the left, a messaging app on the right. The atmosphere is relaxed, the exchanges are interactive, and you're directly involved.
Eight things to check, at your own pace
Your mission in Escape Fake is to verify eight pieces of information in a limited time (between 25 and 45 minutes depending on the level). Some are authentic, others are not. Each time, you must justify your choice. You will also face real news or situations (as you will see in the capture).
To help you, a Bookcases tools is available at any time. It contains advice posts for assessing the reliability of information. Going further, it is even possible to rely on the Internet (yes, the real one!). And as the game specifies, new content can be added regularly.
Progressive support, never intrusive
Sasha guides you throughout the game. She comments on your decisions, validates your answers, and guides you toward better practices. If you make repeated mistakes, Jeanne comes back to correct them, without ever making you feel guilty. So you progress without pressure, with clear and helpful advice.
A personalized and constructive conclusion
Once your checks are complete, you must publish your review, which concludes your mission. Jeanne returns one last time to share her assessment, followed by a written comment from Sasha. This personalized feedback allows you to better understand her mistakes and her good reflexes.
Escape Fake, a useful game, even for content creators
Escape Fake manages to make you think without ever boring. Whether you play it solo, with a partner, or in a class, the game remains accessible, dynamic, and intelligent. And if you're counting create contents for the web, it's a great starting point. It teaches you how to verify information before publishing it, to use the right tools and to remain critical of what circulates online. In short, a game to discover, to share... and to replay.
