What are Serious Games?
One of Bach’s students developed one of the earliest serious games. In this game, the participant roll dices and combine musical fragments into a song. Serious games are defined as games with additional pedagogical value. The main challenge is creating a strong immersion while the player learns new skills.
Serious games should not be confused with Gamification, which takes existing activities and intensifies learning satisfaction. There is no immersion.
How far can we push games into the pedagogical realm while keeping players immersed? What’s even immersion?
List of Some Serious Games
Tech
Developers know their realm.
Shenzhen I/O
Shenzhen I/O Get the intuition behind developing digital circuits, from logic gates to functional devices. Some even developed Tetris in the game. Learn the basics of assembly and memory management with interactive puzzles. A great companion when taking a Computer Science introduction course such as Nand-to-Tetris.
while True: learn()
while True: learn()
This game introduces the basic concepts, from machine learning core algorithms such as Gradient Descent and Decision Tree to deep learning. This game helps with the underneath intuition when taking a deep learning course. Consider spending some time in this game the next time you wait for your real-world neural network to finish its training.
Hacknet
Hacknet Learn about network protocols, CLI commands & navigation, and some hacking concepts. The excellent soundtrack provides a unique experience.
Game Dev Tycoon
Game Dev Tycoon Experience the history of video game consoles from the early days of the Nintendo Entertainment System to PlayStation 5 in a chronologic timeline (the consoles’ names have minor changes due to copyrights). Also, develop an intuition for understanding the delicate balance of genre-platform and the investments required for publishing a game, including better graphics, sound, or even a new engine. After a game is released, a detailed report specifies if your combination went well, and if it didn’t, why.
Political
Beyond board games.
Democracy 4
Democracy 4 Most things aren’t black or white - they are somewhere in the middle. Learn the delicate balance to maintain your government and country.
Rebel Inc.
Rebel Inc. Political-military game. Stabilize a chaotic region/country by invading it (in the concept of USA-Afghanistan, Russia-Syria, etc.). Gain complete control of the region, win the trust of its citizens and rebuild civilian, government, and military infrastructures.
Biology
Should I bring on-board chemists / biologists?
Sim Cell
Sim Cell This game cannot be found today except for this trailer. You play as a tiny nanobot inside a human body, learning about the different cells, curing diseases, and interacting with DNA.
This game is one of the few examples of utilizing procedural soundtrack in a game. Composed by Leonard J. Paul - learn about it here.
Plague Inc.
Plague Inc. A widely known epidemic simulator. Get the intuition behind viruses’ evolution, how they spread, and their development to survive against human precautions. While the game ends when a vaccine is found, we know it is not exactly the case.
Have you ever played Pandemic II? Check it out, perhaps it was one of their inspirations.
In 2013, the CDC said that it was interested in Plague Inc. as “it uses a non-traditional route to raise public awareness on epidemiology”. Read about it on Wikipedia.
Automotive
A saturated category.
Car Mechanic Simulator 2021
Car Mechanic Simulator 2021 Learn about different parts of various vehicles.
Microsoft Flight Simulator
Microsoft Flight Simulator From physics to real-world extremely detailed airplanes. Will it replace simulators in flight schools?
Agriculture
Farming Simulator 2019
Farming Simulator 2019 Learn how to operate heavy equipment for agriculture purposes.
Zoology
Planet Zoo
Planet Zoo Profoundly teaches you about each animal it has. Which species can live together? What type of terrain do they need? Which species are in danger? Examine animals’ behavior and witness the research the team invested.
Jurassic World Evolution
Jurassic World Evolution Same but with dinosaurs (to the extent of our current knowledge). Developed by the same studio.
City Planning
Cities: Skylines
Cities: Skylines A somewhat failed SimCity gave the right opportunity for the successor of Cities in Motion to raise. Learn about traffic, noise, pollution, and infrastructures.
The original team had 17 members.
History
You already know them.
Europa Universalis IV
Europa Universalis IV Set from 1444 to 1821 AD. Learn the delicate dynamics of trade and conquering, starting a war with/without Casus belli, and the consequences. Expand your empire in an experience which is similar to a board game.
Based on the board game Europa Universalis from 1993. Learn about it here.
From the same publisher: Crusader Kings III is set in 1066-1453. Hearts of Iron IV is centered around World War II, starting from 1936.
Age of Empires (II & IV)
Age of Empires IV Experience historical battles. The developers pushed the fourth title into a profound pedagogical realm.
0 A.D is a FOSS 3D experience inspired by the second title. There’s no campaign (yet).
Sid Meier's Civilization V
Civilization V Chose your civilization, expand, and develop technologies while learning which technology belongs to what era. Expand your knowledge about cultures and watch them as you expand.
The franchise was inspired by a 1980 board game named Civilization. Learn about it on Wikipedia.
Unciv is a recent FOSS which is inspired by the fifth title.
Bonus
Hypnospace Outlaw
Hypnospace Outlaw Experience the early days of web 1.0 with an alternative reality that builds its own unique identity. Not exactly a serious game by the book.