The project "MICROpolis - science in cards" aims to highlight the importance of bacteria in nature to the public through the co-creation of a board game. Board games represent a modern tool for science communication as they encourage creativity, collaboration, critical thinking and active participation. The project was carried out through a series of one-day creative challenges in the form of hackathons in three cities, combining lectures and workshops. The process involved primary school pupils, secondary school students and university students, each group having a different role - from developing the initial concept and working out the game mechanics, to illustrating the characters. All stages of game development involved experts from relevant fields (microbiology, dramaturgy and mathematics), as well as teachers. The final phase was prototype testing, game promotion and a competition. The end result is an educational and entertaining board game that illustrates the interactions between bacteria and other organisms, available to schools and the wider public as an innovative means of science communication.