Now, play Peacemaker in West Asia

The interface shows a map of Israel and the Palestinian territories. Windows pop up periodically, each presenting a picture or video of a scenario, such as a Palestinian suicide attack or an Israeli air strike, likely to trigger a response.

As in real life, each move leads to a reaction by a party to the conflict or within the international community. The goal of the peacemaker is to reach compromises and eventually, a peace agreement, leading to the establishment of a Palestinian state.

“The secret is to opt for the middle route, to walk between the drops and not make radical decisions,” said one of the developers, Israeli native Asi Burak. You have to know when to ignore things and when to respond.”

If you play the Israeli leader and order an air strike following a Palestinian attack, you risk stoking Palestinian anger and more violence. A tough military response might also draw criticism from world powers. But if you choose not to respond militarily, you may face criticism at home, and could eventually be voted out of office.

As Palestinian President, you will likely win support from Israel and the international community if you rein in militants after a suicide attack in the Jewish state, according to the game’s parameters.

But confronting militants could make you unpopular among a Palestinian electorate that voted the Islamic group Hamas into office in 2006. A more cautious approach might be to demand Israel stop military action in Gaza and the occupied West Bank.

The game’s creators, Burak and Eric Brown, made it as a project during their time at Carnegie Mellon University, Pennsylvania, which has since used it in courses. They began selling it online earlier this year under their label ImpactGames.

“We tried to answer all the things we felt were critical—Palestinian refugees, Jerusalem, so that it would stay timeless,” Burak said.