Fact Check Detective

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  middle of the game

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  starting page

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  game questions

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  last page of total score

Inspiration

Every day, fake health cures, recycled flood photos, deepfake videos and phishing forwards spread faster than the truth, and most of us share them before we check them. We wanted a way to practise spotting misinformation that feels like a game, not a lecture.

What it does

Fact Check Detective is a noir-style investigative puzzle game. You play a newsroom detective vetting viral posts before the morning edition goes to print. For each case file you use four tools (check the source, the date, the photo and the claim), then stamp your verdict: Verified, Fake or Clickbait, before a 45-second deadline. You earn points for accuracy, speed, streaks and for using fewer tools, and every case ends with a short lesson from "the Chief". At the end you get a rank, from Rookie Intern to Chief Inspector, plus personalised tips and the S.I.F.T. method (Stop, Investigate, Find better coverage, Trace claims).

How we built it

The game is built with plain HTML, CSS and JavaScript in a single file, with no frameworks, so it runs instantly in any browser, even on a phone. The cases are stored as simple data (headline, source, clues, lesson), so new ones are easy to add. The best score is saved with the browser's local storage. We designed the concept, theme and gameplay, and used an AI assistant (Claude) to help write and refine the code.

Challenges we ran into

Our first version felt like a basic quiz, so we redesigned it with a detective theme: case files, evidence cards, rubber stamps and a deadline timer. We also had to balance the scoring so players are rewarded for investigating carefully without being punished for using tools. All cases use fictional outlets and people, so the game never spreads real misinformation about anyone.

Accomplishments that we're proud of

We built a complete, playable game with no tutorial needed, 12 realistic cases, a distinctive look, and instant feedback that teaches a real-world skill in under five minutes.

What we learned

Misinformation follows patterns: urgency, shock headlines, anonymous sources, recycled images and missing evidence. Turning those patterns into clues makes them easier to remember than a list of tips.

What's next for Fact Check Detective

More cases (including local and regional-language scams and WhatsApp forwards), difficulty levels, sound effects, a story that links the cases together, and a classroom mode so teachers can use it to teach digital literacy.

Built With

• css3
• github
• google-fonts
• html5
• javascript
• localstorage