From Plato’s Cave to AI-Assisted Critical Literacy: Designing a VR Serious Escape Room Game for Misinformation Awareness

Abstract

Information literacy in the contemporary, increasingly digital era is a critical citizenship component. Context-stripped images, emotionally charged narratives, clickbait titles, fake news, and AI-generated materials are serious threats to societal well-being. This paper introduces Timeless Trap, a desktop virtual reality escape room game inspired by Plato’s Allegory of the Cave, that aims at enhancing digital information literacy. The game immerses learners in a narrative that requires interpreting misleading cues and conflicting sources to progress. It intentionally maps the transformational journey from confusion to mastery by highlighting key moments where learners are prompted to apply epistemic judgment, anchoring their learning trajectory. A generative artificial intelligence assistant, powered by a large language model, provides instructional scaffolding and supports self-regulated learning. The assistant encourages open reflection and the consideration of alternative interpretations throughout gameplay. Although learners may consult the assistant at any time, the game design prioritizes metacognitive awareness and exploratory dialogue over answer-seeking. This work presents an immersive learning approach that integrates serious games with critical digital literacy, with anticipated outcomes including enhanced epistemic judgment, improved information verification skills, and strengthened self-regulated learning among participants.