While many people see video games as pure escapism, continuously improving technology and new creative ideas allow for game developers to make games with more than just entertainment in mind. Video games have always found ways of speaking to societal issues whether intentional or not, and many modern content creators on platforms like YouTube and Twitch understand this. One YouTuber is determined to inform the public about forest decline in Germany and around the world, and they've used scenes from The Witcher 3 and the God of War series to deliver good information and get some laughs.

According to conservation websites, global tropical forest loss averaged around 8.3 million acres a year from 2002 to 2019, which is basically an area the size of Belgium every year. It's also estimated that only 10% of the world's rainforests will be left by 2030. A YouTube channel simply titled Katharina Skalicki has decided to share some of these deforestation facts with viewers as part of a mockumentary project for English class. The first episode of "Reforestation" relies heavily on footage from the Metro Exodus Enhanced Edition, but Skalicki decided to double up on gaming references for the second episode.

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The "Reforestation" series centers around a production team following different gaming protagonists who act as "reporters" and travel around talking to citizens of their respective gaming worlds about climate change. Episode two starts off with the famous Geralt of Rivia, who attempts to talk to some forest spirits (wraiths) before he is rudely rejected and has to instead rely on the testimony of Dr. Daniel Dubious (a random inn NPC.) There are a few funny interactions between a drunk Geralt and the NPC, but there is also some legitimate information about climate change and deforestation.

Following this interview, the production team decides to get the ultimate lesson in how to live forest-friendly by visiting Kratos in 2018's God of War, who lives in a cabin with a "hipster beard." Kratos shows the team how he deals with those who don't respect the forest and then proceeds to take his son Atreus on a trip for food. Along the way, Kratos and Atreus discuss the effects of toxic chemicals and greenhouse gases on nature and extol the benefits of not supporting the meat and dairy industry.

Ultimately this YouTube series provides several funny moments for gamers to appreciate while also sharing some educational information about climate change. Although the jokes are best experienced while watching the series, both episodes have complete scripts available in their comment sections for those interested in how the mockumentary series is put together.

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Source: The World Counts, Conservation