Educational Games Forums

 

Online Communities for Educational and Serious Games

Communities for Designing and Developing Educational/Serious Games

  • IGDA Serious Games SIG (Discord & Slack) – A Special Interest Group of the International Game Developers Association focused on serious games. It brings together developers, academics, and industry professionals to discuss best practices in educational and serious game design. This community hosts active channels (on Discord and Slack) for mentorship, design thinking, and technical tips (Unity, Unreal, etc.) related to serious game development. Emerging technologies like VR/AR in learning and the integration of instructional design are frequent topics as members explore how to create games with purposes beyond entertainment.

  • IGDA Learning, Education & Games (LEG) SIG – Another IGDA-affiliated community that bridges game developers with educators and researchers. The LEG SIG maintains an active Facebook group where developers, teachers, and policymakers share insights on the intersection of learning and game design. Discussions often cover how to integrate curriculum needs into game mechanics, experiences using tools (from Twine for interactive storytelling to Unity for 3D simulations), and feedback on educational game projects. It’s a well-moderated space for collaboration on K-12 and higher-ed game initiatives and for seeking guidance on pedagogical game design challenges.

  • Games for Change Community (G4C) – An online forum (Google Group) run by the Games for Change organization, which champions games for social impact and learning. This community is a hub for serious game developers and educators to network, seek advice, and discuss projects. Members post about design lessons learned, get feedback on prototypes, and share resources on topics like health games, civics simulations, or educational VR experiences. The tone is supportive and mission-driven – self-promotion is minimized in favor of collaborative problem-solving and sharing best practices in serious games development.

  • Serious Games Society (SGS) – An international community of practice for serious game researchers and creators. The SGS connects cutting-edge companies, academic institutions, and practitioners dedicated to developing serious games. They host the annual GaLA (Games and Learning Alliance) conference and publish the International Journal of Serious Games, providing forums (both online and at events) to exchange knowledge. Joining SGS gives access to webinars, project showcases, and networking channels focused on serious game design and evaluation, including topics like gamification in education and training simulations.

  • Reddit – r/SeriousGames – A subreddit devoted to games with purposes beyond pure fun (education, training, health, etc.). It’s an active forum for designers and academics to discuss serious game ideas, ask for feedback, and debate theory. You’ll find threads on issues like measuring learning outcomes in games, tips for balancing fun and pedagogy, and recommendations of game engines or toolkits for making educational content. The community is relatively small but engaged, and it spans a mix of professionals and students interested in the serious games field.

Communities for Playing and Discussing Educational/Serious Games

  • Reddit – r/EducationalGames – A subreddit for fans and users of educational games to share experiences and recommendations. Members (including parents, students, and teachers) discuss trends in educational gaming, favorite and “least favorite” titles, and how well certain games work for learning. It’s a good place to ask for game suggestions by age group or subject (e.g. “best science games for middle school”), read honest feedback on what makes an educational game enjoyable, and even see indie educational game developers posting their creations for community opinions.

  • “Game-Based Learning, Gamification, and Games in Education” (Facebook Group) – A large Facebook community (2,000+ members) of teachers, educators, and gaming enthusiasts sharing how they use games in the classroom. This well-moderated group is rich with practical advice: educators swap stories about using both digital and board games for teaching, post game-based lesson ideas, and troubleshoot implementation issues (like classroom management during Minecraft sessions). The focus is on exchanging resources and first-hand experiences – an easy place to get recommendations on effective educational games and how to integrate them into curricula.

  • Playful Learning Alliance (Facebook Group) – An informal but vibrant group of educators, researchers, and developers at the forefront of play-based learning pedagogy. Discussions in this community often delve into the theory and practice of making learning playful. Members share articles and research on game-based learning, brainstorm ways to use specific games or playful techniques to enhance student engagement, and highlight success stories of “learning through play.” It’s a welcoming space for anyone interested in the broader games and learning movement, from K-12 teachers using games in class to designers of educational experiences.

  • edWeb “Game-Based Learning” Community – A free professional learning network (hosted on edWeb.net) that brings together educators, game developers, and researchers to discuss game-based learning in schoolsedweb.net. This community offers regular webinars with experts, discussion forums, and resource sharing. Teachers here talk about implementing serious games in various subjects, share data on effectiveness, and even connect with developers for classroom pilots. Because it’s a dedicated professional community, the dialogue is focused and constructive – from pragmatic tips on using specific educational apps, to higher-level conversations about gamification strategy and evidence of impactedweb.net.

  • Gamification for Education (Facebook Group) – A community centered on applying gamification and game elements in educational settings. Educators and instructional designers in this group discuss techniques like point systems, badges, or narrative challenges to boost learner engagement. They also evaluate educational apps and platforms through the lens of game design: for example, how a math practice app leverages rewards or how to turn a syllabus into a “quest.” It’s a valuable space for sharing creative ideas on making learning more game-like and for learning what has (or hasn’t) worked for others when “gamifying” their classrooms.

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