Games That Matter: Nearly Two Decades of Playing for Real Change

What if the games we play could help solve climate change, revolutionize education, or improve mental health? For nearly two decades, I've been exploring if they can. In this talk, I'll take you behind the scenes of my journey creating games that matter. From classrooms where students learn through play, to empowering communities to build their own games, I'll share my stories of transformation. My approach to games is simple: don't just study games, build them. Test them with real people facing real challenges. Then iterate based on what actually works, not what we think should work. Through numerous examples, you'll see how we've gamified everything from sustainability education to health interventions, using cutting-edge technologies and methods that didn't exist when I started this work. Whether you're a future game designer, educator, researcher, or simply curious about the untapped potential of play, you'll leave with a new perspective on what games can do when we move beyond entertainment. 

Casper Harteveld is a professor of game design at Northeastern University, and has affiliated appointments in Computer Science, Electrical & Computer Engineering, Mechanical & Industrial Engineering, and the School of Law. Professor Harteveld’s research focuses on using games to study and improve decision-making. He has designed and evaluated games on flooding, urban heat islands, debris collection, and pro se litigants. A significant portion of his work is devoted to translating research outcomes to the classroom or informal settings.

This lecture recording can be found on the Available Recordings page approximately two business days after the event and will remain accessible for three weeks.