Understanding All Will Rise: A Guide to the Game's Climate Activism Themes and Cultural Context

Overview

All Will Rise is a narrative-driven deckbuilder that challenges players to debate and explore ideas through unlocked and upgraded cards. At its core, the game tells a passionate story about the murder of a river, activism, and holding the powerful accountable—using both legal means and ecoterrorism and violent action. This guide will walk you through the key themes, cultural context, and potential reactions to the game, helping you appreciate its nuanced take on climate activism.

The game’s design director, Hugo Bille, expects “definitely some pushback from Western audiences” regarding its depiction of violent resistance. The 2022 film How to Blow Up a Pipeline (based on Andreas Malm’s book) stirred similar controversy, and All Will Rise follows in that vein as “an activist story that deals with these topics.”

Narrative director Meghna Jayanth emphasizes that the team at Speculative Agency wants to engage with “the conversation” about violence in climate and activist movements. This includes challenging the Western presumption—reinforced by groups like Extinction Rebellion—that nonviolence is the only morally acceptable approach.

Prerequisites

Before diving into this guide, you should have:

• A basic understanding of the climate crisis and current activist movements (e.g., Extinction Rebellion, Fridays for Future).
• Familiarity with the concept of narrative deckbuilders (like Slay the Spire or Inscryption) to follow game mechanics references.
• An open mind toward controversial topics—the game explores ecoterrorism and violent resistance, which may conflict with personal beliefs.

Step-by-Step Guide to Analyzing the Game’s Themes

1. Understand the Fictional World and Its Inspiration

All Will Rise is set in Muziris, a fictional city in a world adjacent to our own, with India as a primary cultural inspiration. This is crucial because the game’s approach to activism is rooted in the struggles of Adivasis (indigenous peoples of India).

“Arundhati Roy has this great video clip where she’s challenged on her support for Adivasi and tribal movements, often characterized as Naxalite movements, which deploy guerrilla tactics and sabotage and violence. And she’s challenged: why can’t they be nonviolent? Well, nonviolence requires an audience. And a lot of these people, their oppression takes place in the forest, away from cameras.” — Meghna Jayanth

Action: Reflect on how the game’s setting allows it to sidestep Western-centric assumptions about activism. The oppression of Adivasis occurs invisibly, making traditional nonviolent protest less effective or even impossible.

2. Compare Real-World Reactions to Similar Works

The 2022 film How to Blow Up a Pipeline received pushback from right-wing critics and even drew FBI concern over inspiring attacks. Bille acknowledges that All Will Rise will likely face similar backlash because it “stirred up a storm.”

Action: Research the film’s reception—note that while it was well-reviewed, it was condemned for allegedly promoting terrorism. Use this as a lens to anticipate how All Will Rise might be received, especially in Western markets.

3. Examine the Game’s Core Debates

The narrative asks players to explore the ethics of:

• Nonviolent activism (e.g., legal challenges, protests).
• Ecoterrorism (targeting infrastructure to halt environmental destruction).
• Violent resistance (as a last resort when the system fails).

Through deckbuilding, players collect cards that represent arguments, actions, and consequences. The game does not necessarily endorse violence but presents it as a viable option within the story.

Action: Imagine yourself playing the game. Which arguments would you be most uncomfortable with? Why? This exercise highlights the moral tensions the developers want you to confront.

4. Contextualize the Current Political Climate

Jayanth points out the hypocrisy in how activism is treated:

• In the UK, nonviolent climate activists are being “severely clamped down on” by the government, risking freedom.
• In the US, violent right-wing activists who tried to overturn an election were pardoned, while ICE is killing immigration activists.

This double standard is central to understanding why All Will Rise even considers violent tactics. The “rules about what is and what isn’t acceptable in regards to activism have been tossed out the window.”

Action: Compare these real-world examples to the game’s narrative. How does the game reflect or challenge these injustices?

5. Anticipate Western Pushback

Bille “definitely expects some pushback from Western audiences” because the game challenges the “settled notion around … pacifism is the only way.” The developers want to engage in a conversation, not preach.

Action: Prepare yourself for potential discomfort. Recognize that the game is not an instruction manual but a thought experiment. Its value lies in forcing you to question ingrained beliefs.

Common Mistakes

• Assuming the game glorifies terrorism: All Will Rise portrays violence as one option among many, not an endorsement. The developers explicitly want to start a conversation, not promote actions.
• Ignoring the non-Western perspective: Many players may default to Western activist frameworks (e.g., Gandhian nonviolence) without considering why these might not apply in contexts like India’s Adivasi struggles.
• Confusing the game’s stance with the developers’ personal views: Meghna Jayanth and Hugo Bille are raising questions, not necessarily advocating for ecoterrorism. The game is a platform for debate, not propaganda.
• Forgetting the “definitely expect pushback” statement: Some players may be surprised by controversy, but the team has anticipated it. Approach the game with an open, analytical mind.

Summary

All Will Rise is more than a deckbuilder; it’s a bold narrative experience that tackles climate activism through the lens of violent resistance, drawing from Indian Adivasi struggles and the controversial film How to Blow Up a Pipeline. Expect pushback from Western audiences accustomed to pacifist-only narratives. To fully appreciate the game, understand its fictional setting, real-world parallels, and the moral ambiguity it presents. By engaging with these themes, you’ll be better equipped to join the conversation the developers aim to spark.

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