Gaming for Social Good: How Games Are Making a Positive Impact

I always hated when someone said that gaming was a waste of time. It’s no more a ‘waste of time’ than watching a TV show or a movie. The difference is that games are interactive, often encouraging you to solve puzzles, strategise and stay alert.

A lot of people associate video games with mindless entertainment and leisure, but the impact of games extends far beyond amusement. An increasing number of games have been designed with the purpose of making a positive impact on society, and that’s what I want to talk about today.

Gamifying Education: Learning through Play

Games have the potential to revolutionise education by making learning more engaging and interactive. Educational games can teach various subjects, from mathematics and science to history and languages, in a fun and immersive way. By leveraging game mechanics like rewards and progression systems, educational games motivate and inspire students, helping them develop critical thinking skills while enjoying the learning process.

Here’s a short list of educational games that showcase how games can make learning engaging and interactive:

Minecraft: Education Edition

Subject: Various (Mathematics, Science, History, Art)
Description: Minecraft allows students to explore and create in a virtual world. Educators have developed custom maps and lessons within the game to teach subjects like geometry, history, and even coding.

Civilization VI

Subject: History, Geography, and Strategy
Description: Civilization VI is a turn-based strategy game that challenges players to build and manage a civilization throughout history. It incorporates historical events and leaders, making it a great tool for learning about different cultures and time periods.

CodeCombat

Subject: Coding and Programming
Description: CodeCombat is an interactive platform that teaches coding through gameplay. Players solve programming challenges, write code, and see the immediate effects of their code in the game, making it a fun way to learn programming concepts.

Duolingo

Subject: Language Learning
Description: Duolingo turns language learning into a game, where users earn points for completing lessons and can compete with friends. It makes language acquisition enjoyable and provides a gamified approach to mastering vocabulary and grammar.

Image by Freepik

Raising Awareness: Games as Advocacy Tools

Games can be powerful vehicles for raising awareness about important social issues. Developers have created games that tackle topics like mental health, environmental conservation, social justice, and more. By putting players in the shoes of characters facing these challenges, these games foster empathy, spark conversations and encourage players to take action in the real world.

Papers, Please

Issue: Immigration and Bureaucracy
Description: In this dystopian simulation, players take on the role of an immigration officer and must make decisions that impact the lives of virtual characters. The game prompts players to reflect on the ethical implications of their choices and the challenges faced by immigrants.

Never Alone

Issue: Cultural Preservation
Description: Developed in collaboration with Alaska Native storytellers, this puzzle-platformer explores indigenous folklore. By immersing players in the cultural experiences of the Iñupiat people, the game raises awareness about the importance of preserving and understanding diverse cultures.

This War of Mine

Issue: War and Civilians
Description: Instead of focusing on soldiers, this war survival game puts players in charge of a group of civilians trying to survive in a war-torn city. It explores the challenges and moral dilemmas faced by civilians during armed conflicts.

Spent

Issue: Poverty and Financial Struggles
Description: Spent is an online game that simulates the experience of living on a tight budget. Players must make tough choices to survive financially, highlighting the difficulties faced by those living in poverty.

Life is Strange

Issue: Bullying, Mental Health, and Teen Issues
Description: This episodic graphic adventure game addresses various social issues, including bullying, mental health and the challenges of adolescence. It allows players to make choices that impact the narrative and characters’ lives, building empathy and understanding.

Promoting Health and Well-being: Serious Games

Serious games are designed with the intention of promoting health and well-being. They address various health issues, including physical fitness, mental well-being and rehabilitation. Whether it’s encouraging physical activity through exergames or providing therapeutic experiences for individuals with specific conditions, serious games are proving to be valuable tools for promoting healthier lifestyles and aiding in the healing process.

Crowdsourcing Solutions: Gaming for Research and Innovation

Some games are designed to leverage the collective intelligence of players to solve real-world problems. These games, known as “citizen science games,” involve players in scientific research and innovation. From deciphering complex patterns in data to designing proteins and solving puzzles that contribute to scientific advancements, players become active participants in driving progress in various fields.

EyeWire

Field: Neuroscience
Description: EyeWire is a game that tasks players with mapping neural pathways by tracing and colouring in 3D reconstructions of neurons. This helps scientists understand the structure and connectivity of the brain, contributing to neuroscience research.

Zooniverse (Various Projects)

Field: Various (Astronomy, Biology, Climate Science, etc.)
Description: Zooniverse is a platform that hosts a variety of citizen science projects. Examples include “Galaxy Zoo,” where players classify galaxies, and “Snapshot Serengeti,” where players identify animals in camera trap images. Participants contribute to real scientific research across different disciplines.

Stall Catchers

Field: Alzheimer’s Research
Description: Stall Catchers is a game where players analyse videos of blood vessels in the brains of mice to identify stalls (clogged vessels). This data helps researchers studying Alzheimer’s disease and contributes to advancements in vascular research.

Image by wirestock on Freepik

Philanthropic Gaming: Fundraising and Charitable Initiatives

Games have become a platform for philanthropy, enabling individuals and communities to come together for a greater cause. Through charity livestreams, in-game events, and fundraising campaigns within games, players can donate money or participate in virtual challenges to support charities and charitable initiatives. Gaming communities have demonstrated their incredible generosity, raising significant funds for causes such as disaster relief, healthcare and education.

Promoting Inclusivity and Accessibility

Game developers are striving to make gaming more inclusive and accessible to individuals with disabilities. Accessibility features such as customisable controls, colourblind modes and closed captioning are becoming more common. Furthermore, initiatives like the SpecialEffect charity utilise technology to adapt gaming experiences for people with physical disabilities, allowing them to enjoy games and be part of the gaming community.