We’re celebrating a big win! Investigation Declaration – made by iCivics and Filament Games – has officially earned a Gee! Award, just in time for launch! 

Investigation Declaration takes students on a secret agent mission across time and the Atlantic world. A global crime ring, Baddies Against Rights & Freedom (B.A.R.F. for short), has hacked the Bureau of Ideas, aiming to destroy any and all files related to freedom and democracy. If students accept their mission, they will learn how ideas have spread, track evidence of natural rights, state sovereignty, and the Social Contract, and restore the corrupted files. With Investigation Declaration, the Declaration of Independence’s foundational ideas become concrete, connected, and compelling for classrooms. 

The game shines in its balance of freedom and structure. Students can follow multiple investigative paths, experiment with different strategies, and discover connections at their own pace. The design ensures that the Declaration’s big concepts are revealed through evidence and good old-fashioned detective work. In recognition of the game’s recent launch, Carrie Ray-Hill, iCivics Senior Director of Digital Learning, noted: “We set out to help teachers from middle school civics through AP courses engage the kids with these really big concepts and introduce Atlantic history in a new way.”

Winning a Gee! Award is a huge honor for Investigation Declaration and the team behind it. This recognition celebrates the game’s ability to make the Declaration of Independence feel alive, urgent, and unforgettable for students.

Congratulations to the iCivics team, and to the educators and students who are already taking on the mission. 

Join the investigation now!