The world of mobile game development is constantly evolving, and one recent creation has caught our attention. Introducing J6, a solo journaling RPG that delves into the psychology of radicalization.

On January 6th, 2021, approximately 2,000 people entered the U.S. Capitol building, leading to a series of events that had far-reaching consequences for those involved. Five years later, President Trump pardoned nearly 1,600 participants, but many remain "consumed by conspiracy theories," families are "barely holding on mentally, emotionally, and financially," and they're "looking for the next thing to mobilize for." What happened? How do ordinary people become radicalized?

About the Game

J6 is a mobile game that mechanizes the psychology of radicalization. Over five phases spanning November 2020 to January 2026, you'll:

  • Roll dice to make decisions as conspiracy theories surround you
  • Track your Radicalization (0-12) as beliefs harden into certainty
  • Watch Consequences (0-10) accumulate as your life falls apart
  • Feel Reality Points (5-0) deplete as fact-checking becomes impossible
  • Journal your character's thoughts as they descend deeper

What Makes this Different

This isn't a power fantasy. There's no way to "win." You'll experience finding your tribe in online echo chambers, dismissing courts and media as "corrupt," entering the Capitol on January 6th, federal charges, imprisonment, divorce, unemployment, and the pardon that somehow makes it worse.

At Radicalization 12/12, you cannot distinguish reality from conspiracy. Even after losing everything.

Why Play This?

Because understanding excusing. By experiencing radicalization from the inside, you'll understand:

  • How helplessness drives extremism
  • How feelings override facts when identity is threatened
  • How moral certainty blinds to consequences
  • How echo chambers reinforce beliefs
  • Why consequences alone don't deradicalize

This game creates empathy while maintaining critical distance.

Historical Accuracy

Every mechanic is grounded in documented behavior and reporting from The New York Times (January 5, 2026), congressional investigations, Justice Department findings, and court records. All facts are cited.

Content Warnings

This game addresses political extremism, legal consequences, financial ruin, family separation, mental health crisis, and real events from January 6, 2021. This is serious educational content.

What You Need

  • Two six-sided dice (2d6)
  • Paper and pen for journaling
  • 60-90 minutes
  • Willingness to examine difficult truths

Game Structure

Phase 1: November 2020 - Election doubts, finding online communities

Phase 2: December 2020 - Courts reject fraud claims, belief hardens

Phase 3: January 2021 - The Capitol, participation levels, rationalization

Phase 4: 2021-2024 - Arrests, trials, imprisonment, consequences

Phase 5: January 2026 - The pardon, new conspiracies, the cycle continues

On This 5th Anniversary

Five years after January 6th, 2021, questions remain: How did this happen? Could it happen again? What breaks the cycle?

This game doesn't answer those questions. But by showing HOW radicalization works, it helps us ask better questions about how to prevent it.

Download Includes

  • Print-and-play tri-fold game (2 pages)
  • Full rules document (PDF)
  • Historical record and fact-checking
  • Reflection prompts and discussion questions
  • Facilitator's guide for educational use

Released on January 6, 2026—the 5th anniversary of the Capitol attack—as a tool for understanding, reflection, and education.

"How can everyone not see this?"

Because they're looking at the facts. You're looking at your feelings.

If you found this game educational, please rate it! Reviews help educators find this resource.