Designing Serious Games

By Elin Carstensdottir, Magy Seif El-Nasr, Michael John

A comprehensive guide to the design and development process of games for impact.

Serious games--or games for impact--encompass everything from educational, therapeutic, and rehabilitative games to games for social, scientific, and cultural impact. While the field is flourishing, the practice of actually designing such games is not readily understood. Filling this gap, Designing Serious Games provides a comprehensive guide to the design and development process of this unique interdisciplinary field. The book guides readers through a user-centric design process that includes methods to define the game's goal, understand its target audience, design accordingly, and evaluate outcomes. Featuring diverse case studies, actionable advice, and incisive interviews with transformational game practitioners and industry leaders, this practical book is an essential resource for anyone interested in designing serious games.

Provides game design instruction tailored to the needs of serious gamesOffers step-by-step activities and guidance on concept design, preproduction, production, and postproductionHighlights industry perspective through interviews sharing real-life insights of development practiceIncludes extensive exercises and case studiesSuits both students and professionals

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0262049988
• ISBN13: 9780262049986
• Release Date: January 2026
• Publisher: MIT Press
• Length: 370 Pages