Lilac Song

Important context: I have not successfully played any of the Social Democracy games. I tried, but history was not my friend until recently, and it’s hard to immerse myself in the gameplay when I only understand about 5% of what’s going on.

But Lilac Song is a short story with no strategizing required. The scale is small enough for me to catch the vibe, and the premise is entirely laid out in the beginning: “Berlin, July 19, 1932. … Your name is Sibylle Hoffmann. Twenty-nine years old, a servant, an amateur scholar of mathematics and politics, and a transvestite.” You have an interest in politics, both academic and personal. You have the ear of a politician. And by playing through the simulation game you created, you’ve developed some ideas about what’s needed to defend the Republic.

I’m glad this game exists, because I feel like I got a different angle on Social Democracy by playing it. This approach was immersive in its own way, especially with the period music and artwork to help set the scene.

When I realized this story was being told from the perspective of someone who made a game about saving democracy in 1932, I got chills. We’re here in the 2020s writing games about saving democracy! Did I think it was only present-day people trying to capture our moment in history? We wonder if the games we’re creating will actually make any real difference. Did I ever consider that people throughout history were probably wondering the same thing? Drawing a direct line to the past this way expanded my thinking about our current predicament.

Anyway, you can reflect on how to make a difference, but ultimately there’s not much you can do—which is also more relatable to me than trying to meddle with actual politics. The ending feels very pessimistic, which is entirely appropriate. But one late-game question was the key for me: “Do you believe that a game could really save Germany? Or is this nothing more than an enjoyable diversion?”

I had to really think about that one, through space and time.