Forty percent of Malaysia's palm oil production is contributed by smallholders, both independent and organized. Organized smallholders benefit from technical support, labor, and market access provided by government agencies such as FELDA, FELCRA, and RISDA. However, many independent smallholders lack these resources, leading to lower yields. Additionally, 13.6 percent of Malaysian independent smallholders are family-run operations with poor social and environmental standards due to limited capital. These smallholder families earn about RM1600 (SGD530) per month, which is significantly below the new national poverty line of RM2,208 (SGD725). They struggle with effective financial management, accessing credit, and navigating markets, which hinders their economic empowerment and overall sustainability. Thus, it becomes critical to enhance the financial behaviors of young adults aged 15 to 24 as they transition into adulthood in smallholders’ families. During this period, these young adults in low income families will begin to take on responsibilities such as contributing to household income, covering basic needs, paying for education, and starting to earn money to handle bills and personal desires. These young adults need to be equipped with essential skills and training to enable them to take control of their lives and break free from the cycle of poverty. Addressing these challenges through engaging and educational tools to understand real-world financial scenarios is essential for improving their financial stability and resilience of young adults from low-income families of independent smallholders. Moreover, financial literacy levels among youth are generally low worldwide, and financial literacy games for youth have the potential to enhance long-term financial decision-making skills. The primary objective of this research is to design a financial literacy game concept to empower young adults (15-24 years old) from families of independent smallholder communities in the oil palm sector with the necessary financial decision-making skills. The study follows the principles of Design Based Research and will be conducted in three phases. Phase 1 involves a comprehensive needs analysis through surveys to assess young adults from smallholder families (n=30) in their financial literacy. The respondents will also be surveyed about their engagement in farming activities on family farms and their intentions to continue running the family farm. Phase 2 focuses on the design and development of the game design document, guided by a multidisciplinary panel of experts (n=20) using the Fuzzy Delphi Method to achieve consensus among experts to ensure the game is relevant and effective for the target group. Then, based on the output, a comprehensive game design document will be developed. The design of the game is expected to better equip the young adults in smallholder families to allocate resources efficiently, educate them on various credit options, including how to obtain and manage loans effectively, navigate markets, understand supply and demand, encourage them to save and invest wisely to grow their wealth over time, and equip them with strategies to mitigate financial risks related to oil palm. There is dearth of research on developing financial literacy games tailored to families of independent smallholder farmers in the palm oil industry which can significantly enhance their economic empowerment. By providing engaging and practical financial education, the games can help these young adults in the smallholders’ farmers’s families make better financial decisions, access necessary resources, and improve their overall economic stability and sustainability in the future.Thus, this research can contribute to the overall sustainability and economic empowerment of young adults in families of independent smallholder farmers in the palm oil industry, addressing critical gaps in current practices and enhancing their quality of life. By creating a financial literacy game design document that supports the financial decision-making of young adults of smallholder palm farmers communities, the design document can be used for future interventions such as building a game prototype that can be piloted with young adults in the smallholder communities to bring societal and economic impact for the oil palm sector in Malaysia. Furthermore, the design document becomes a valuable blueprint as it will be designed with the input of experts from different disciplines which increases the quality and relevance of the design based on the consensus. Furthermore, financial literacy of smallholder communities have been under researched especially in Malaysia. Most studies on smallholders are focused on farmers in Indonesia and Nigeria, and there is very little known on initiatives for young adults in the smallholder communities who will play an important role in the oil palm industry in the near future. The difference between this study and previous studies is not only that this study focuses on young adults in smallholder oil palm communities, unlike previous studies that targeted broader or different groups such as primary school children or secondary school children, but the game design will include cultural and socioeconomic aspects specific to these communities, making it more relevant and effective for the audience. It will cover scenarios like managing farm income, dealing with market price changes, and accessing financial services, which are often not addressed in other financial literacy games. Additionally, developing a Game Design Document (GDD) indicates a more structured and innovative approach, involving detailed planning of game mechanics, narrative, and educational content, setting it apart from simpler games in other studies. Moreover, financial literacy levels among youth are generally low worldwide, and financial literacy games for youth have the potential to enhance long-term financial decision-making skills. For example, financial literacy games can help young adults gain essential knowledge about managing money, budgeting, saving, investing, and understanding financial products. This knowledge is crucial for making informed decisions that can affect their financial well-being. These games often provide practical scenarios and simulations that allow youth to practice financial decision-making in a safe environment. This experiential learning can build confidence and skills that are directly applicable to real-life situations. Moreover, in smallholder oil palm communities, access to financial resources and services may be limited or underutilized. Financial literacy games can raise awareness of available financial tools and services, such as microfinance, loans, and savings accounts, empowering young adults to utilize these resources effectively. In addition to this, by engaging with financial literacy games, young adults can develop positive financial behaviours, such as regular saving, prudent spending, and careful planning for the future. These habits are vital for achieving long-term financial stability and security. Youth in smallholder communities may face specific economic vulnerabilities, such as income instability due to fluctuating crop prices. Financial literacy games can educate them on managing these challenges, helping to reduce their susceptibility to financial crises. When designed with cultural relevance, these games can be more engaging and relatable, making the learning experience more enjoyable and impactful. This can lead to higher retention of financial knowledge and a greater likelihood of applying what they've learned daily. Moreover, this study aligns with the National Strategy for Financial Literacy 2019-2023 and SDG 1, SD3, SDG 4, SDG 8 and SDG 10. It can also contribute to the national effort to improve financial literacy and well-being, reducing rural poverty among smallholder communities, addressing specific needs within the agricultural sector and promoting sustainable economic development in the oil palm sector. In addition, this study is expected to produce new insights into how a financial literacy game designed specifically for young adults in smallholder oil palm communities impacts their financial knowledge and skills, especially compared to more general financial education tools. Next, this study will also identify unique financial challenges faced by young adults in smallholder oil palm communities and how these challenges can be addressed through targeted financial literacy initiatives. Insights into the specific financial knowledge gaps and needs of young adults in these communities can inform future educational and policy initiatives. These findings will also contribute to the broader understanding of how customized financial literacy tools can be developed and implemented to meet the unique needs of specific communities, particularly in rural and agricultural settings. Thus, the findings from this study can also be utilized as a starting point by policymakers, government organizations, non-governmental organizations and MPOB to create new initiatives aimed at raising financial well-being among the younger generation of the smallholder communities of the oil palm sector.