Utrecht Center for Game Research

Games play an increasingly important role in many societal areas by allowing users to practice, play, experiment, research, and learn in a safe and motivating environment.

The Utrecht Center for Game Research performs interdisciplinary research on serious gaming and playful interaction with a focus on the following domains:

  • Games for Learning
  • Games for Health
  • Games for Change 

It is our mission to employ games to help solving large societal challenges. Games are pre-eminently suitable to inform, motivate, appeal to emotion, and influence behavior. Games do that better than other types of media. Learn more about our projects in our magazine Game Research.

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Week of the Game

The Center for Game Research organises yearly the "Week of the Game". See the annual series.

  • Studio 253Games

    253Games is the game design and development studio of the Center for Game Research of Utrecht University. It develops games for educational and research purposes for clients within UU.

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  • 'Utrecht is the place to be for game research'

    Playing is not just fun, but also important for the health and development of children. Neurobiologist Heidi Lesscher, paediatrician/researcher Sanne Nijhof and game researcher Sander Bakkes form the core group of the Healthy Play, Better Coping hub.

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  • Magazine Game Research

    The Game Research magazine "Games that Change Your Mind" highlights several research projects of the Utrecht Center for Game Research, and features interviews with affilliated researchers. Click below to read it online!

    Magazine