Ikigai - Games for Citizens

What Ikigai - Games for Citizens does

Ikigai - Games for Citizens is a French national consortium d'intérêt général founded in 2017 and headquartered in Paris, operating as the first national production and research pole in educational gamification in France. It is explicitly supported by three French ministries — the Ministry of Higher Education and Research, the Ministry of National Education, and the Ministry of Culture — and is hosted at Plateau Urbain, 13 Rue Santeuil, 75005 Paris. The organization serves approximately 1 million students across a national consortium of universities, grandes écoles, and schools, alongside teachers, cultural and scientific institutions (BnF, CEA, Sapiens/Learning Planet Institute), and the general public.

Its core product offering is the Suite Pluridisciplinaire Ikigai, comprising three interconnected multisupport applications: FlashCards by Ikigai (spaced repetition memorization co-produced with Université de Lille and Université Paris-Saclay), Masters Quiz! (formative evaluation and peer testing via multiple-choice questionnaires co-produced with Sorbonne Université and Université de Limoges), and Rank it (knowledge classification by value axes co-produced with ENS Paris-Saclay, Université Paris-Saclay, and Institut Villebon Georges Charpak). The portfolio extends to 20+ games including standalone narrative and investigation titles such as Hellink (critical thinking and fake news), Arausio (Roman antiquity), Partyright (license identification), and On vous rappellera (job interview preparation with Université de Nîmes), plus partner-produced titles like Le Prisonnier Quantique (CEA), Le Royaume d'Istyald (BnF), Neuroboost and Blockchain Battle (PlayCurious/Polytech), and Learningscape (Sapiens). Distribution runs through the centralized ikigai.games platform, native iOS and Android apps, Windows and Mac desktop clients, and progressive integration into institutional Moodle LMS environments.

Ikigai's business model is grant-funded rather than commercial. All games and teacher services are provided free of charge to the public and to member institutions. Operating revenue derives from national and European innovation programs, most notably the €5M FORTEIM award from France 2030's AMI 'Compétences et Métiers d'Avenir' (Banque des Territoires) signed in July 2024 within a €10M total budget co-financed by 14 partners over three years, the Digital FCU laureate status with France Université Numérique under AMI CMA 2023 with 19 universities, and participation in the Prometheus-X skills data space under the Digital Europe Programme (DIGITAL-2022-CLOUD-AI). Ikigai also generates indirect revenue by helping partners draft institutional funding applications, co-financing projects, and co-developing pedagogical solutions regardless of maturity. Strategic endorsements include Ubisoft's industry support and invitations to events such as VivaTech 2026 on the Île-de-France Region stand.

Name

Ikigai - Games for Citizens

Legal name

Ikigai Games for Citizens

Website

https://gfc.ikigai.games

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Ikigai - Games for Citizens is a French national consortium that develops and distributes free educational games and gamified learning tools to universities, schools, and the general public, reaching approximately 1 million students through a multi-ministry-supported network.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Educational Gamification Software

akta.pro primary industry

Interactive Learning Games & Gamified Courseware (EDAGALAL)

akta.pro secondary industries

Simulation, Scenario & Serious Games Design (EDAGAKAH), Game-Based Learning & Gamification Authoring (EDAFAHAF), Educational Games & Kids/Families Game Studios (MPAFAAAI)

Keywords

• Educational gamification software
• Serious games education
• Spaced repetition learning
• Formative evaluation tools
• Academic consortium platform

Headquarters

HQ city

Paris

HQ country

France

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Software

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Free Educational Services: Games and tools are provided free of charge to the general public. Associated services for teachers in member institutions are also free. Revenue is not derived from these services directly but through project funding and consortium memberships.
2. Project Funding (France 2030): Ikigai receives funding through national programs like France 2030. The FORTEIM project was awarded 5 million euros from AMI 'Compétences et Métiers d'Avenir' with a total project budget of nearly 10 million euros co-funded by partners over 3 years. The Digital FCU project involved participation with 19 universities through France Université Numérique.
3. Co-development and Co-financing Services: Ikigai helps partners with project responses to institutional calls for projects, co-financing projects, and co-development of pedagogical innovation or learning solutions regardless of project maturity level.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Ikigai Games for Citizens develops and distributes a portfolio of educational games and gamification tools designed for teaching, learning, and cultural/scientific mediation. Its core offerings include a multidisciplinary product suite (FlashCards by Ikigai, Masters Quiz!, Rank it), standalone serious games (Hellink, Arausio, On vous rappellera, Partyright), and a centralized distribution platform (ikigai.games) accessible across web, iOS, Android, Windows, and Mac. Games and tools are offered free of charge to the general public, with additional institutional features for teachers at member consortium institutions.

Product overview

Ikigai Games for Citizens is a national production and research pole in gamification supported by the French Ministry of Higher Education and Research, Ministry of National Education, and Ministry of Culture. The company's offering is organized as a platform with interconnected products: the Ikigai Games Platform (centralized distribution portal) hosting a portfolio of games and educational applications. The core product suite is the Suite Pluridisciplinaire Ikigai, comprising three interconnected applications: FlashCards by Ikigai (spaced repetition memorization), Masters Quiz! (formative evaluation via multiple choice), and Rank it (knowledge classification). The portfolio also includes standalone games such as Hellink (critical thinking cyberpunk adventure), Arausio (Roman archaeology investigation), Partyright (license identification), On vous rappellera (job interview preparation), and partner-created titles including Le Royaume d'Istyald, Neuroboost, Le Prisonnier Quantique, Blockchain Battle, and Learningscape. The platform targets universities, schools, and the general public, with free public access and institutional features for member establishments.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• FlashCards by Ikigai: Multisupport application for revision and long-term knowledge anchoring using spaced repetition algorithm, co-produced with Université de Lille.
• Masters Quiz!
• Rank it
• Hellink
• Arausio
• Partyright
• On vous rappellera
• Ikigai Tour
• Let's play by Ikigai

Products and services

• FlashCards by Ikigai A multi-platform (iOS, Android, Windows, Mac) educational application for memorization and long-term knowledge retention using a spaced-repetition algorithm based on cognitive science / Ebbinghaus principles; teachers can create and share custom card packs via private FlashCode, with LaTeX support, progress tracking, gamification and Moodle integration. Targeted at students and teachers for exam preparation and knowledge anchoring.
• Masters Quiz! A multi-platform formative evaluation application using multiple-choice questionnaires enriched with pedagogical arguments and links to reliable sources; supports multiplayer challenges, collective events, teacher dashboards for personalized quiz creation, and Moodle integration. Targeted at teachers and students for cohort animation and peer testing.
• Rank it A multi-platform educational application for ranking/classifying knowledge items along value axes (chronology, hierarchy, priority, logic); includes solo and multiplayer modes, projection mode for classroom use, and Moodle integration. Targeted at teachers and students for structuring and contextualizing knowledge.
• Hellink A narrative adventure game set in a cyberpunk universe that mixes humor with critical thinking training; players help Elixène Seyrig, a cybercrime expert, solve a major hack by bouncing between keywords, researching information and confronting adversaries' lies. Targeted at students and the general public for media literacy and critical thinking skills.
• Arausio An investigation game for exploring the Roman amphitheater of Orange and discovering Roman antiquity. Targeted at students and the general public for cultural and historical mediation.
• Partyright A board game for learning to identify the subtleties between different software licenses and choosing the correct one. Targeted at students and professionals for intellectual property and licensing literacy.
• On vous rappellera A narrative game placing learners in the role of a job candidate who prepares for and succeeds in multiple job interviews; develops preparation, research, argumentation and decision-making skills. Targeted at students and job seekers for professional interview preparation.
• Le Royaume d'Istyald A partner-created educational game produced by the Bibliothèque Nationale de France (BnF), featured in the Ikigai catalog for cultural mediation. Targeted at students and the general public.
• Neuroboost A partner-created educational game produced by PlayCurious (Polytech network), featured in the Ikigai catalog. Targeted at students and the general public for neuroscience-themed learning.
• Le Prisonnier Quantique A partner-created educational game produced by CEA, featured in the Ikigai catalog for quantum physics outreach. Targeted at students and the general public for scientific mediation.
• Blockchain Battle A partner-created educational game produced by PlayCurious, featured in the Ikigai catalog for blockchain technology literacy. Targeted at students and the general public.
• Learningscape (Escape Game) A partner-created escape room educational game produced by Sapiens / Learning Planet Institute, featured in the Ikigai catalog for educational and scientific mediation. Targeted at students and the general public.
• Ikigai Games Platform A centralized web game distribution platform that makes educational games accessible to the general public and offers institutional features for teachers and member establishments. Targeted at students, teachers, and educational institutions in France.
• Suite Pluridisciplinaire Ikigai A multidisciplinary suite of three interconnected applications (FlashCards by Ikigai, Masters Quiz!, Rank it) designed to cover the principal domains conditioning learning and support exam success and training hybridization across memorization, evaluation and classification. Targeted at teachers and educational institutions.

Quantifiable outcome

• Approximately 1 million students can be reached through member institutions
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers12 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration1 record

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered flagship and core.

• CINav (Cluster Industries de la Navale)flagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 July 2024CINav partnered with Ikigai for the FORTEIM project (€10M total budget, €5M from France 2030) focused on eco-energy transition training for maritime industries. Ikigai contributes serious games for effective learning. The project involves 14 academic and industrial partners over 3 years.
• France Université Numérique (FUN)flagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 6 January 2023Ikigai participates in the Digital FCU project led by France Université Numérique with 19 universities for continuous professional training innovation through games. Ikigai produces ambitious games for skills acquisition.
• UbisoftcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUbisoft, French world leader in video games, provides industry endorsement and strategic support. Ex VP Editorial O. Dauba stated Ikigai brings diversity to the video game industry and independent initiatives influence mainstream gaming.
• Prometheus-XcoreTechnology or IntegrationIkigai is part of the Prometheus-X ecosystem for building the skills data space of tomorrow. Collaboration on DIGITAL EUROPE PROGRAMME for data infrastructure in education and skills.
• Région Île-de-FrancecoreGTM or Marketing PartnerInvited Ikigai to present at VivaTech 2026 on their exhibition stand (Hall 7.2 - Stand D14). Supported by Direction de l'Innovation, Recherche et l'Enseignement supérieur.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Triseum: Triseum develops serious games for higher education covering economics, history, and STEM. It is directly comparable to Ikigai's higher-education serious-games suite (Rank it, On vous rappellera), targeting university instructors with curriculum-aligned narrative and simulation games.
• Classcraft: Classcraft is a gamification platform that turns classroom management and learning into role-playing game mechanics for K-12 and higher education. It overlaps directly with Ikigai's gamification mission for teachers and students, focusing on engagement and formative evaluation.
• Kahoot!: Kahoot! is a global game-based learning platform offering quiz-driven, multiplayer educational games for schools and enterprises. It is the closest direct competitor in the educational quiz/gamification space where Ikigai's Masters Quiz! operates, with similar target users (teachers and students) and freemium-plus-paid model.
• DragonBox (Kahoot!): DragonBox is a studio specializing in educational mobile and tablet games that teach math and logic through gameplay. It overlaps with Ikigai's educational game catalog (Hellink, Arausio) as a specialist studio producing playful, subject-specific learning apps.

Emerging players

• Labster: Labster builds immersive 3D virtual lab simulations for university science courses. It shares Ikigai's higher-education serious-games orientation and consortium-driven institutional sales model, with overlap on subjects like physics (Le Prisonnier Quantique).

Others

• France Université Numérique (FUN): FUN is the French national platform for online higher-education courses and MOOCs. Ikigai is a partner in the Digital FCU project led by FUN; both target the same French higher-education audience for digital learning innovation, making FUN an adjacent ecosystem participant rather than direct competitor.

Broad incumbents

• Duolingo: Duolingo is the global leader in gamified consumer learning with a freemium mobile-first model. It is a broader incumbent in gamified education, far larger and consumer-focused, but shares Ikigai's spaced-repetition pedagogy and game-loop engagement patterns.
• Amplify: Amplify is a large US-based curriculum and educational games publisher serving K-12. It overlaps with Ikigai's mission of integrating serious games into curriculum, but operates as a broad incumbent with proprietary standards-aligned content rather than a consortium network.
• Minecraft: Education Edition (Microsoft): Microsoft's Minecraft: Education Edition is a game-based learning platform used widely in schools for STEM, history and creativity. It is a broader incumbent in the educational games category where Ikigai competes for teacher adoption and curriculum time.

Regional players

• Universcience: Universcience is the French public institution for science and culture mediation (Cité des Sciences et de l'Industrie, Palais de la Découverte). It shares Ikigai's cultural and scientific mediation mission, French public-sector backing, and audience (general public and students), making it a comparable regional player in edutainment.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xbsky.app/profile/ikigai-games.bsky.social
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@ikigai5562
• Facebookfacebook.com/ikigai.games
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/ikigai-games
• Instagraminstagram.com/ikigai.games

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Ikigai - Games for Citizens