Run, Hasina, Run: Mobile game as political satire

Remember that unforgettable moment when, under the watchful leadership of a certain someone, the entire nation was plunged into social media darkness? With the internet out of commission, those without pre-installed offline games on their mobile found themselves left with only one option—the legendary Google Chrome Dinosaur Game. 

Yes, the one where a pixelated T-Rex bravely hops across a barren landscape, dodging cacti and airborne threats while reminding us of our internet outage-induced helplessness.

Last night, a student from Daffodil International University's Multimedia and Creative Technology department took his creative liberty with this concept. Instead of a tiny prehistoric lizard, players now control the former lady of the land, frantically dodging her Nobel laureate "arch enemy", who lurks ominously with a spike and a particularly sinister grin, seemingly relishing his moment of revenge.

At the time of writing, the "game"—aptly titled 'Dourao Hasina Dourao' (Run, Hasina, Run)—had already been played over 3,40,000 times, making it an instant hit on social media in Bangladesh. And, aside from a certain someone's staunch supporters, it seems like everyone is thoroughly enjoying the thrill of tapping, jumping, and dodging their way through this digital spectacle.

"I was tinkering with a new game engine called GDevelop the other day, and I already had the meme materials in mind. That's when it struck me—why not turn those ideas and characters into a game similar to the Google Chrome Dinosaur Game?" said Tasrif Ben Mezan, the brains behind 'Dourao Hasina Dourao'.

Once the concept was locked in, took Tasrif no more than eight to ten hours—just a single night—to animate the characters and bring them into the game. And it's precisely those "meme materials" that have players in stitches, setting this game apart from your usual Flappy Bird-style runner. 

That's also why Tasrif prefers to describe 'Dourao Hasina Dourao' as more of a viral social media meme than a traditional indie game. And just like that, any chances of the game being officially marketed or making its way to the Play Store or App Store vanish into thin air.

"A game featuring political figures, especially with some explicit elements, is never going to be marketable—nor should it be promoted that way. This was just a fun gimmick I made for myself and a close group of friends. But I always knew that something like this had the potential to blow up on social media," said Tasrif.

Let's be honest—this isn't really a game in the traditional sense. It's more of an interactive meme with just enough mechanics to keep you tapping. The real magic? The comedic chaos.

As soon as the loading screen fades, you tap to make Hasina start running, only to be greeted by an emotional blast from the past—her voice dramatically reciting Tagore's "Nissho Ami, Rikto Ami"—a poetic flex her father once used in a 1972 speech. 

And because no political satire is complete without collectables, players can rack up extra points by grabbing coins imprinted with her father's face. Meanwhile, the Indian flag waves in the background as Hasina energetically chases Modi, all to the tune of the iconic banger 'Jitbe Abar Nouka.' 

But the real kicker? Lose the game by failing to dodge that Nobel-winning thorn in her side, and you'll hear Hasina's desperate cry— "Ki oporadh ta korechi ami?"

Of course, dabbling in political satire is like poking a beehive—you will get a reaction. And sure enough, the supporters of the former lady of the land weren't exactly thrilled with Tasrif's creative endeavour.

"I've been flooded with threats and hate messages online ever since the game went live. Some have warned me that my social media accounts will disappear, while others took it a step further by targeting the game's publishing website. But so far, no real-life confrontations—just the usual digital outrage," Tasrif shared.

Tasrif is now toying with the idea of creating another game along the same lines. He mentioned that he's been sent suggestions—this time, instead of helping Hasina escape, players would get to, well… go on the offensive.

Of course, no one here is actively endorsing hostility, but given the intense outrage and frustration Bangladeshis harbour towards their former leader, it doesn't take a genius to predict that a game with such a narrative would hit all the right notes (and nerves) among players. But since this game has already yielded $26, or Tk3,147, worth of support from players, Tasrif's future endeavours might yield more.

For now, Tasrif plans to return to enjoying his favourite indie games on Steam while focusing on developing games for Steam and Switch—his real passion.

"The audience and genre of actual games are completely different, and that's where I want to direct my efforts. Going viral and racking up online engagement for a gimmick like this doesn't really contribute to my career," he concluded.