A ‘serious game’ is a game played for educational, exploratory or research purposes to explore the complexity of a particular issue. These are distinct from games that are played purely for entertainment.

In the video clip below, Dr Nicolas Saillou of ETH Zurich describes how he builds and uses ‘serious games’ for exploring natural resource management.

Other examples of ‘serious games’ include the Africa Farmer game which explores the complex decisions and uncertainties faced by small scale farmers in sub-Saharan Africa.