Mangrove Awareness and Coastal Resilience Education through Geo-game Design: Bridging Ecological Knowledge and Student Experience

Departement of Geography, Universitas Negeri Malang, Malang, Indonesia

^* Corresponding author: alfyananda.fis@um.ac.id

Abstract

In this study, we present the Lusi Eco-Quest, a place-based geo-game designed to enhance environmental literacy and spatial thinking in geography education. Situated on Pulau Lusi, a coastal island formed by sedimentation following the 2006 Lapindo mudflow, the game incorporates localized themes of landform transformation, coastal resilience, and mangrove conservation in an interactive role-playing format. Developed using RPG Maker MZ to inquiry-driven missions rooted in real-world ecological contexts. The evaluation involved 36 participants who utilized the User Experience Questionnaire – Short Version (UEQ-S) and the System Usability Scale (SUS), supplemented by an expert review. The results indicated an excellent user experience (mean UEQ-S score: 1.98) and acceptable usability (SUS score: 69), with recommendations for enhanced instructional support for future use. The game facilitates experiential and problem-based learning by enabling players to analyze spatial risks, simulate conservation practices and engage with environmental narratives. The findings suggest that Lusi Eco-Quest is an effective educational tool that integrates geospatial technology with local environmental content, offering a replicable model for enhancing student engagement and ecological understanding in disaster-affected coastal settings.