I love Shady Sam because it shows you exactly how loan sharks scam people into paying more money! If you understand the tactics they use, you can prevent yourself from falling prey to them. In the game you have to play as a loan shark. Your goal is to get as much money from your clients as possible. You do this by looking at different loan options and selecting the one that will earn you the most money. You offer many different types of loans such as student loans, mortgages, business loans, etc. As you progress you receive emails that let you know the impact of your choices. For example, if you provide a loan with a lower interest rate and a longer repayment term than the other options, they may inform you that you’ll earn more money due to the extended duration. You also have the option to tack on early repayment penalties.

Please note that the game can come off as very cringy (well, you are a loan shark)! It also doesn’t cover every scenario. For example, a longer duration isn’t necessarily bad if you can find one with out hidden fees/penalties for early repayment. Even if you do pay a fee for early repayment, the total amount paid may still be less than what you would have paid at a higher interest rate. All and all Shady Sam does a phenomenal job illustrating the predatory practices used by loan sharks. It requires no previous knowledge of finance and is very educational. Check it out!

https://shadysam.com/