EGF Introduces ‘CityQuest: Shades of Bharat’ To Promote Education On Urban Development

The E-Gaming Federation (EGF), a body in India's skill-gaming industry, has introduced an online game titled CityQuest: Shades of Bharat, aimed at educating players about the development of Indian cities. Developed in collaboration with the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (MIB) as part of the ‘Create in India Challenge’ for the upcoming WAVES 2025 summit, CityQuest offers an interactive way to explore urban progress across the nation.

CityQuest: Shades of Bharat is structured as an online educational game powered by Games24x7, an established Indian online skill-gaming platform. The game is inspired by the Prime Minister's urban planning initiatives and highlights urban metrics based on real data from NITI Aayog's SDG Urban Index. The game includes city cards that represent 56 Indian cities, showcasing various urban indicators—such as cleanliness, infrastructure, healthcare and education—aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Through this format, CityQuest aims to foster a better understanding of urban progress and promote the localization of SDGs among players.

The game was introduced by EGF CEO Anuraag Saxena, who focused upon the educational potential of gaming in engaging citizens with societal issues. Players will navigate CityQuest by comparing city metrics against a computer opponent using six parameters on each card. Parameters include the Hunger Index, Health and Well-being and Gender Equality, allowing users to explore different facets of urban development. A national and city-based leaderboard is also featured, promoting a sense of healthy competition across different regions of India.

Available on Android through Google Play, CityQuest is free to play and offered in English. The competition will also award players in various categories, including regional top players, as well as special categories for members of the Armed Forces and Divyang individuals. The game also includes city-based awards for cities with the highest levels of engagement and scores, promoting local pride and community involvement.

This initiative is part of the broader ‘Create in India Challenge’ Season 1, which encompasses 25 creative challenges in collaboration with industry associations to elevate India’s media and entertainment landscape leading up to the WAVES 2025 summit and International Film Festival of India (IFFI) in Goa.