The project "Games Are No Joke" responds to a pressing challenge in Europe, where youth disengagement, misinformation, and ideological extremism threaten social cohesion and democratic participation. Studies show that 40% of young people feel unheard in political and social matters, making them more susceptible to radical narratives. Social media echo chambers further intensify these divisions, reinforcing one-sided perspectives while limiting exposure to diverse viewpoints. At the same time, youth workers lack structured training in innovative methodologies to engage young people in critical discussions. Board games, often dismissed as entertainment, have proven to be powerful educational tools that foster critical thinking, empathy, and constructive dialogue in a way that traditional methods cannot. Unlike conventional discussion techniques, board games lower resistance to engaging with opposing viewpoints, making them an effective tool for addressing polarization and radicalization prevention. This project directly addresses the lack of structured training in game-based learning for youth workers, providing them with a step-by-step, practical approach to integrating board games into their non-formal education methodologies. The objectives of the project are: - To train 21 youth workers in game design principles, facilitation techniques, and educational planning, enabling them to integrate board games into their youth work practice. - To teach youth workers how to use board games as a tool for fostering dialogue, perspective-taking, and critical thinking, equipping them with innovative ways to engage young people in discussions about societal challenges. - To develop strategies to identify and counter misinformation and extremist narratives through gameplay, helping young people navigate media and ideological landscapes more critically. - To inspire youth workers to design their own board game prototypes, tackling themes such as polarization, inclusion, and democratic participation. - To create a Game Design Toolkit, compiling best practices, methodologies, and adaptable game concepts that other organizations can use to integrate game-based learning into their youth programs. - To establish an international network of youth workers dedicated to game-based learning and social impact, fostering long-term cooperation and knowledge exchange among organizations across Europe. - To encourage collaboration between organizations working on countering extremism, youth inclusion, and civic education, ensuring that the knowledge and methodologies developed in this project extend beyond the training course itself. While board games have enormous educational potential, their impact remains untapped without trained youth workers who can facilitate their use effectively. Through this project, we aim to empower youth workers with the skills, creativity, and theoretical knowledge needed to use board games as tools for social change, because to effectively tackle radicalization, good intentions alone are not enough.