'All They Do Is Win': Lessons learned from use of a serious game for Circular Economy education

•We examine the usefulness of a serious game In the Loop in facilitating education about material criticality and Circular Economy.•We explore how students contextualized the game in written reflections after having played the game.•Opportunities for further applications of In the Loop are identified.•Implications of using serious games in education for Circular Economy and sustainable development are discussed.