Wealth Wizard
Simulation Game concept designed to make learning about money and finance enjoyable.
Project Type
UX Case Study
Game Design
Category
Financial Education
Team Size
Solo
Duration
6 weeks
OVERVIEW
Turning Finance into Fun!
Turning Finance into Fun!
Imagine a world where learning finance is as fun as playing a game! Wealth Wizard is a simulation-based game designed to teach young adults of India (14-22). Its about saving, investing, and budgeting through real-life scenarios—all in an interactive and engaging way.
Imagine a world where learning finance is as fun as playing a game! Wealth Wizard is a simulation-based game designed to teach young adults of India (14-22). Its about saving, investing, and budgeting through real-life scenarios—all in an interactive and engaging way.
01
Play
02
Learn
03
Save
04
Grow
MY STORY
How it all Began
How it all Began
During my school years, I had financial education as a subject, but when I came to university, I realized many students lacked such basic knowledge since it was never part of their curriculum in schools, this is what inspired me to make financial learning more accessible but in an engaging way. This ended up by me presenting my research paper "Empowering Young Minds: Engaging Financial Education Through Interactive Games for Indian Schools" at ICORD’25, IIT Hyderabad—a proud moment, as it was accepted for Springer Publication!
THE PROBLEM
A Missing Piece in Education
A Missing Piece in Education
Due to a lack of financial education in schools and colleges, many young adults lack the financial knowledge and money management skills required for their financial well-being.
Due to a lack of financial education in schools and colleges, many young adults lack the financial knowledge and money management skills required for their financial well-being.
What do studies reveal?
What do studies reveal?
What do studies reveal?
76%
76%
of youth in India does not understand basic financial concepts stated by a 2014 global survey.
of youth in India does not understand basic financial concepts stated by a 2014 global survey.
Despite of the government initiatives like RBI & SEBI Programs (the NSFE 2020-2025 curriculum), the literacy rates still continues to be
Despite of the government initiatives like RBI & SEBI Programs (the NSFE 2020-2025 curriculum), the literacy rates still continues to be
Critically Low.
A Timely Opportunity
Fraudsters are secretly pasting their own
NEP 2020 & NCFSE 2023 emphasize:
Experiential learning
Inquiry-driven education
Technology-enabled learning
Experiential learning
Inquiry-driven education
Technology-enabled learning
These government policy validates the need for innovative learning solutions.
Fraudsters are secretly pasting their own
Fraudsters are secretly pasting their own
QR Codes
QR Codes
over legitimate ones, diverting payments to their accounts.
over legitimate ones, diverting payments to their accounts.
Schools prioritize subjects like Math, Science, and Literature than financial literacy.
Schools prioritize subjects like Math, Science, and Literature than financial literacy.
Generally,
Generally,
Financial Education is overlooked in the school curriculum of India.
Financial Education is overlooked in the school curriculum of India.
Gamification boosts student performance and confidence around money tasks by
Gamification boosts student performance and confidence around money tasks by
89.4%
89.4%
A look at the existing tools
A look at the existing tools
Money Master Game
Hay Day
Township
Money Magic
Limitations Pinpointed
Limitations Pinpointed
Rely heavily on text based interactions and multiple choice questions.
Not explicitly designed for financial literacy.
There is little to no gamification to keep users engaged.
Focuses on resource management, but lacks structured financial education.
Rely heavily on text based interactions and multiple choice questions.
Not explicitly designed for financial literacy.
There is little to no gamification to keep users engaged.
Focuses on resource management, but lacks structured financial education.
Money Master
Game
Hay Day
Township
Money Magic
Understanding the Problem
Understanding the Problem
A Google Form was distributed in order to understand user’s awareness, experiences and struggles related to financial literacy and received 70 responses for the same. Followed by that a total of 26 interviews were conducted, spanning three age groups: 14-17, 18-20 and 21-24 years old. And an additional interview with a Finance Expert was conducted to learn more about students’ attitude towards personal finance.
A Google Form was distributed in order to understand user’s awareness, experiences and struggles related to financial literacy and received 70 responses for the same. Followed by that a total of 26 interviews were conducted, spanning three age groups: 14-17, 18-20 and 21-24 years old. And an additional interview with a Finance Expert was conducted to learn more about students’ attitude towards personal finance.
Survey Results
Survey Results
75.6%
75.6%
Showed poor financial literacy.
42.8%
42.8%
Found traditional teaching methods ineffective.
47.1%
47.1%
Believed games would encourage them to learn financial concepts.
Students Insights
Students Insights
“Dependency on parents for financial decisions has increased.”
“I'm still struggling to understand topics like loans, taxes, and banking procedures.”
No sense of spending money since the wants and needs are unclear.
Many learners still struggle to understand concepts like loans, taxes or any banking procedures.
Increased dependency on parents for financial decisions.
Need for Engaging Learning Methods
“No sense of spending money since the wants and needs are unclear.”
No sense of spending money since the wants and needs are unclear.
Many learners still struggle to understand concepts like loans, taxes or any banking procedures.
Increased dependency on parents for financial decisions.
Need for Engaging Learning Methods
“I Need Engaging Learning Methods.”
Expert Insights
Lack of Financial Awareness Leads to Struggles in securing their future.
Financial Decisions are Driven by Intuition & Society
Practical life simulations can be more effective than theoretical concepts.
Money Beliefs Influence Financial Behavior
Expert Insights
“Lack of Financial Awareness Leads to Struggles in securing their future.”
“Money Beliefs can influence Financial Behavior.”
“Practical life simulations can be more effective than theoretical concepts.”
User Segmentation
User Segmentation
After this user segmentation was done to map their expectations and emotions into 3 groups, followed by Affinity Mapping, User Personas, Empathy Mapping and User Journey Mapping.
After this user segmentation was done to map their expectations and emotions into 3 groups, followed by Affinity Mapping, User Personas, Empathy Mapping and User Journey Mapping.
View in Detail
View in Detail
How Might We?
01
01
Make financial education more engaging for students?
02
02
Integrate real-life scenarios for a practical understanding?
03
03
Gamify financial education to enhance student participation and learning?
Behind the Screens
Introducing Wealth Wizard
Introducing Wealth Wizard
Interactive-simulation mobile game.
Learn financial concepts through practical real-life scenarios.
Allows parents to set virtual spending limits
within the game.
Interactive-simulation mobile game.
Subscription plans:
Backbencher, Middle Bencher & Front Bencher.
Performance-based Scholarships & Education Loan Benefits
Rewards to motivate learners on level progression.
Allows parents to set virtual spending limits within the game.
Learn financial concepts through practical real-life scenarios.
Subscription plans:
Backbencher, Middle Bencher & Front Bencher.
Rewards to motivate learners on level progression.
Performance-based Scholarships & Education Loan Benefits
To bring the Wealth Wizard game concept to life, an AI generative platform called Microsoft Designer was utilized to create scenario images representing gameplay elements. These AI-generated images helped visualize real-life financial scenarios in an interactive and engaging way, making the learning experience more immersive.
To bring the Wealth Wizard game concept to life, an AI generative platform called Microsoft Designer was utilized to create scenario images representing gameplay elements. These AI-generated images helped visualize real-life financial scenarios in an interactive and engaging way, making the learning experience more immersive.
User Registration
User Registration
Players register by creating an account.
Parents allocate a fixed amount as the player’s in-game monthly allowance.
The assigned allowance becomes the player’s budget within the game.
Players register by creating an account.
Parents allocate a fixed amount as the player’s in-game monthly allowance.
The assigned allowance becomes the player’s budget within the game.
Real Life Scenarios
Real Life Scenarios
Real-life financial situations through engaging story-based gameplay.
A scenario showcases a boy flaunting his new smartwatch, purchased through savings.
A fake digital currency represents the player’s available funds.
A horizontal bar visualizes money earned or spent within each chapter.
Real-life financial situations through engaging story-based gameplay.
A scenario showcases a boy flaunting his new smartwatch, purchased through savings.
A fake digital currency represents the player’s available funds.
A horizontal bar visualizes money earned or spent within each chapter.
GST Learning
GST Learning
A boy visits a grocery store to buy essentials products.
The UI displays the product price along with GST added.
Players learn how GST impacts the total cost of a product.
Encourages better awareness of taxes in everyday purchases.
A boy visits a grocery store to buy essentials products.
The UI displays the product price along with GST added.
Players learn how GST impacts the total cost of a product.
Encourages better awareness of taxes in everyday purchases.
ATM Withdrawal
ATM Withdrawal
Step-by-step arrow indicators guide students through the ATM withdrawal process.
Players learn how to insert the card and securely enter the PIN.
Users choose withdrawal options like checking balance or cash withdrawal.
Educates students on safe ATM usage and financial security.
Step-by-step arrow indicators guide students through the ATM withdrawal process.
Players learn how to insert the card and securely enter the PIN.
Users choose withdrawal options like checking balance or cash withdrawal.
Educates students on safe ATM usage and financial security.
QR Payment Awareness
QR Payment Awareness
Players learn how scammers replace genuine QR codes with fraudulent ones at local shops.
Encourages checking the merchant name before scanning and confirming payments.
Players learn how scammers replace genuine QR codes with fraudulent ones at local shops.
Encourages checking the merchant name before scanning and confirming payments.
The above video showcases the gameplay concept of Wealth Wizard, which I tried to develop on Unity Software in order to give a basic gist of it. While the visuals may not accurately represent an Indian environment (due to constraints in the Unity assets available), the trailer was created purely for concept demonstration purposes.
The above video showcases the gameplay concept of Wealth Wizard, which I tried to develop on Unity Software in order to give a basic gist of it. While the visuals may not accurately represent an Indian environment (due to constraints in the Unity assets available), the trailer was created purely for concept demonstration purposes.
Accepted at ICORD’25
Accepted at ICORD’25
Empowering Young Minds:
Engaging Financial Education Through Interactive Games for Indian Schools
Empowering Young Minds:
Engaging Financial Education Through Interactive Games for Indian Schools
I am deeply honored to have presented my research paper alongside my co-author Diksha Singh and Arun Soman at the prestigious International Conference on Research into Design (ICoRD Conference) at IIT Hyderabad. This acknowledgment was a turning point, validating our commitment to this novel approach which got accepted and ready to publish by the Springer Publications.
I am deeply honored to have presented my research paper alongside my co-author Diksha Singh and Arun Soman at the prestigious International Conference on Research into Design (ICoRD Conference) at IIT Hyderabad. This acknowledgment was a turning point, validating our commitment to this novel approach which got accepted and ready to publish by the Springer Publications.
Key Takeaways from this Journey
Key Takeaways from this Journey
Our research highlighted gaps in financial education, shaping the design of Wealth Wizard. The effectiveness of gamified learning varies based on individual engagement. To enhance the experience, user testing and feedback will guide UI and concept improvements. Future plans include integrating AR technology for immersive learning, requiring further research to align with evolving student needs.
Our research highlighted gaps in financial education, shaping the design of Wealth Wizard. The effectiveness of gamified learning varies based on individual engagement. To enhance the experience, user testing and feedback will guide UI and concept improvements. Future plans include integrating AR technology for immersive learning, requiring further research to align with evolving student needs.
Wealth Wizard
Simulation Game concept designed to make learning about money and finance enjoyable.
Project Type
UX Case Study
Game Design
Category
EdTech & Social Network
Team Size
Solo
Duration
4 weeks
Presented at ICORD’25 Conference