Teaching with P-Cube: Practical lessons for students and teachers.

This article focuses on P-Cube, a serious digital game designed to teach students and practitioners about decision-making processes in public policy through realistic, complex case studies across four thematic areas: urban innovation, social inclusion, science and public policy, and EU decision making. Drawing on surveys from over 200 participants and direct teaching experiences, the article identifies three key learning mechanisms activated by P-Cube—active learning, problem-based learning, and competition—and finds that the game effectively fosters critical thinking, strategic reasoning, and group interaction. While students and teachers generally report positive outcomes, challenges include the need for adequate digital skills, managing group dynamics to prevent free riding, and ensuring the game's complexity is balanced with accessibility. The article offers practical recommendations for educators on integrating P-Cube into curricula, emphasizing the importance of facilitation, appropriate game selection, and combining gameplay with debriefing to maximize pedagogical benefits.