Research through games design offers our view of games design as a critical design approach for generating new knowledge through the design process. It’s not about producing finished, complete or playable games. It is about making games as a design pursuit to exploring something, a topic, a system, an idea.
What did you learn when you made the game? Why did you make the game? How has that game you started designing metamorphosized as time has gone by? What do you learn if you don’t take game making “seriously”?
We conceptualised Research through games design in a zine for BDiGRA 2025 in Birmingham, giving out copies of the zine and Meal Deal from a suitcase.
Thanks to Ben for presenting at DRS2026.
Reflections
There’s something really exciting about making games with people whilst you feel out a topic or idea. Being able to create and play with fictional worlds, play with boundaries, play with different systems.