Climate change is one of the greatest global challenges of the 21st century and requires innovative educational approaches to convey complex interrelationships and promote the ability to act sustainably. This article presents the World Climate Game as a best-practice example of interactive learning methods. The game simulates international climate negotiations and allows participants to slip into different roles such as political decision-makers, economic actors or civil society organisations. The aim is to promote both cognitive and emotional learning processes and to create a deep understanding of the dynamics of the global climate crisis. The World Climate Game is based on a hybrid simulation that integrates scientifically sound climate and economic data. It visualises the impact of human activities on ecosystems and global politics. Empirical surveys with over 700 participants show that the game not only strengthens environmental awareness and political insight, but also promotes social skills such as cooperation and negotiation skills. Methodologically, the concept is characterised by approaches from transformative education and global citizenship education. The qualitative and quantitative results of the study confirm that the game motivates participants to reflect critically and develop sustainable solutions. Overall, the World Climate Game makes a significant contribution to environmental education and personal development by combining knowledge, emotional involvement and the ability to act. The findings emphasise the relevance of interactive learning formats for overcoming complex global challenges and offer suggestions for the further development of serious games in an educational context.