An educational card game from the Center for Infrastructure Assurance and Security (CIAS) at The University of Texas at San Antonio was recently recognized as a Silver Medal winner in the 2025 International Serious Play Awards Program.
Cyber Threat Defender (CTD), a fast-paced, collectible card game designed to teach children about real-world cybersecurity concepts, received the award in the annual program that honors outstanding education games from around the world.
The annual awards program highlights innovative tools like CTD that help bridge the gap between learning and play. In this year’s competition, nine tabletop and board games were cited for excellence in promoting learning through play.
See the full list of award winners here.
“We are honored to be recognized on the international stage for our efforts to make cybersecurity education engaging and accessible,” said Larry Sjelin, associate director at the CIAS. “This award affirms the impact of Cyber Threat Defender in classrooms and communities, inspiring the next generation of cybersecurity professionals.”
CTD combines fun gameplay with meaningful lessons, and has been used by educators, cybersecurity professionals and community leaders to increase cyber awareness and strengthen cybersecurity education.
Serious Play judges praised the game for its impact and intuitive design. “I came away with improved conceptual understanding of cybersecurity,” stated one, with another stating, “the design and gameplay were overall intuitive, and accurately models concepts and aspects related to computer assets, defenses, threats and their different categories.”
The annual awards program is held during the Serious Play Conference which draws professionals who are exploring the use of game-based learning, sharing their experience and working together to shape the future of training and education.
