Long term impacts of shortcuts and compromises taken during software development are described by the metaphor Technical Debt (TD). TD is an emerging business issue in modern interdependent software systems. Our focus is on personnel involved in managing complex adaptive software systems used in automated Remote Operations Centers (ROC’s) responsible for operating industrial equipment more than 1200 km away in the Australian outback. Recognizing and managing TD in these complex adaptive software systems is challenging. This paper builds on advances Serious Games have made toward improving situational awareness, applying these lessons to TD. The prototype Serious Game TD-Sim is tested with employees working in a ROC. Thematic analysis is used to assess pre- and post-game impacts on situational awareness of TD and this is triangulated with in-game information trails. A baseline efficacy of improved TD awareness is established, sufficient to warrant further game development. Results also identify areas for improving future game design. This study is unique, applying a Serious Game to build awareness of TD in complex adaptive software systems, something yet to be covered by traditional TD research.