The White House Arcade turns Trump administration policies into simple online games covering immigration, school meals, savings and new legislation.

WASHINGTON: The White House website now has something you probably would not expect to find on a government page: an online arcade. The White House Arcade features retro-style games inspired by Trump administration policies, letting visitors play their way through topics ranging from immigration to school meals and children’s savings.

There are five games currently available: Flappy Bill, Build the Wall, Rio Run, Supply Line and Trump Savings Tycoon. Each takes inspiration from familiar arcade games, making them easy to understand and quick to play.

Flappy Bill puts players in control of a bald eagle carrying a bill through Washington. Build the Wall uses falling blocks in a format similar to classic block-building games, while Rio Run has players controlling Border Patrol along the Rio Grande.

Things get different with Supply Line, which turns the administration’s Make America Healthy Again school food goals into a sorting challenge. Trump Savings Tycoon involves catching money connected to children’s Trump Accounts.

The idea behind the White House Arcade is simple. Instead of asking people to read through lengthy policy pages, the website turns selected policies into short games that visitors can understand within seconds.

It is also a format made for the internet. Colourful graphics, simple controls and recognisable game styles make the arcade easy to share on social media and could attract people who would not normally spend time browsing government websites.

Not everyone sees the idea as harmless fun, however. Immigration and border enforcement affect real people, and critics have questioned whether presenting serious subjects as arcade challenges makes complicated issues look too simple.

The Tetris Company has also distanced itself from Build the Wall, saying it was not involved in developing the game and had not authorised the use of its intellectual property.

The White House Arcade fits into the administration’s wider use of memes, pop culture and entertainment-inspired visuals in its online messaging. This time, however, visitors are not simply looking at the content. They can actually play it.

Impact to expect

The arcade could open a new way for governments and political campaigns to reach younger, internet-focused audiences. Turning policy into games may make political messages easier to understand and share, but it could also fuel debate about whether serious government issues should be presented as entertainment.