Summer is drawing to a close, but the debate over the impact of mass tourism on seaside resorts remains as relevant as ever. Between traffic, overcrowded beaches, and abandoned waste, the topic of overtourism returns punctually every year, raising questions about the sustainability of highly seasonal tourism models.
To address it with a new language, was born Beach Invaders, an '80s arcade-style video game that combines humor and reflection. The protagonist is a chef faced with an unusual mission: "defending" the beach and the city from the onslaught of angry tourists, cars, and garbage, using food to make people happy and earn a living.
The concept 
The goal of the game is clear: survive the end of the tourist season, from June to September, while balancing the city's livability with visitor satisfaction. To achieve this, the protagonist must move quickly, use food to appease the most demanding tourists, and earn money, while problems such as litter, unauthorized parking, and chaotic events multiply around them. Messages and suggestions link the various levels, encouraging reflection on how to reduce the negative impact of tourism on the region. Each month represents a new level to complete: as August approaches, the challenge becomes increasingly intense and the pace more pressing. Only those who manage to hold out until the end of September will be able to say they've completed the season... bringing home both survival and earnings.
A video game, a message
Behind the vintage graphics and retro aesthetics, Beach Invaders It sends a clear message: without sustainable management, tourism risks becoming a burden on local communities, turning areas into places to survive rather than live in.
The project bears the signature of Datatrip.it, a startup born from the intersection of data analytics, artificial intelligence, and tourism. Its goal is to develop innovative tools that help companies and destinations understand and manage the complexities of an ever-evolving sector.
How to play
Beach Invaders It is available for free online at
www.datatrip.it.
A small experiment that also represents the start of a broader journey aimed at describing and improving tourism through innovative languages and concrete tools.
Datatrip.it
info@datatrip.it
Instagram: @datatripit
