ONLINE COURSE

Social Impact in Games

This course is open for applications.

Study social impact in games

Social Impact in Games explores how games can be used to talk about real-world issues, ask difficult questions, and create meaningful experiences for players.

Games are more than entertainment. They can help people understand social, cultural, environmental, and political topics by letting players interact with systems, stories, and choices. In this course, you’ll learn how games can raise awareness, encourage reflection, and sometimes even change how people think or act.

As a student, you’ll work with real issues and learn how to turn them into playable ideas. You’ll explore how mechanics, narrative, and design choices can communicate meaning. You’ll also learn how to approach sensitive topics in a responsible and inclusive way, while working in teams similar to those in professional game development.

Key Info

_^Location: Online
_{^{Course start:}} September 2026
_^Duration: 1,5 Years
_^Language: English
_{^{Head of course:}} Pascalia H. Nyamita

Applications & Tuition

_{^{Application period:}} Open
_^Tuition:EUR 2800 / semester (EUR 8400 in total)

About the Program

The Social Impact in Games course focuses on turning complex topics into playable experiences. You’ll learn how to research social issues, understand different perspectives, and use game design as a way to explore them.

The course mixes theory with hands-on work. You’ll prototype ideas, test them with players, and improve them through feedback. A large part of the course is spent working in teams on real game projects, together with students from other disciplines such as game design, programming, art, audio, and production.

You’ll be encouraged to think critically about the impact of your design choices, while also learning how games are made in practice, from early ideas to playable builds and presentations.

Courses

Introduction to Games & Social Impact –_^4w
Systems Thinking & Social Design – _^5w
Ideation, Narrative & Prototyping – _^5w
Production Planning & Impact Design – _^5w
Game Project – Social Impact (Unity) – _^5w
Game Project – Social Impact (Unreal) –_^7w
Diploma Project – _^4w

^{Please note that the courses may be subject to change based on recommendations from our Advisory Board to better align with industry needs.}

Skills and Careers

Learning Outcomes

Understanding the role of games as tools for social impact, including persuasion, procedural rhetoric, representation, ethics, and responsible design.
Knowledge of inclusive storytelling and representation, addressing identity, power structures, accessibility, and cultural sensitivity in games.
Knowledge of systems thinking and simulation design for modeling complex social and political issues.
Competence in research-driven game design, including qualitative research, surveys, and player feedback.
Skills in ideation, prototyping, playtesting, and iteration.
Skills in multidisciplinary collaboration within professional game development pipelines.
Competence in integrating narrative, UX, and behavior-change design.
Knowledge of accessibility and inclusive design practices.
Understanding of commercialization, pitching, and ethical monetization.
Competence in professional presentation, documentation, and portfolio building.

Career

Futuregames Game Project Jury Day at Campus Skellefteå. Students, staff and industry people assembled.

COURSE content

Module 1

Module 2

Module 3 – HANDS-ON WORK ON GAME

(5 weeks, game created in Unity, team size, ca 14-16 developers)

Students will join Game Project 2 (January/February) and work with team of Futuregames students-developers (Game Artists, Designers, Programmers, QA’s, VFX, Animators, Producers, Sound Designers) on games that follow Green Theme.

Work with developers – roles and routines.
Finding a role for one in the Team of developers.
Research on social impact opportunities of the game in creation.
Survey on features implementation among target group.
Social awareness of Team members.
Shaping pitch narrative from the Social Impact angle.
Monetization and commercialization techniques rooted in the game project.
Cooperation with Game Producer.
Commercialization and Pitching.

Module 4

Module 5

Module 6 – HANDS-ON WORK ON GAME

(7 weeks, game created in Unreal, team size, ca 14-16 developers)

Students will join Game Project 3 (May/June) and work with team of Futuregames students-developers (Game Artists, Designers, Programmers, QA’s, VFX, Animators, Producers, Sound Designers) on games that follow Green Theme.

Work with developers – roles and routines.
Finding a role for one in the Team of developers.
Research on social impact opportunities of the game in creation.
Survey on features implementation among target group.
Social awareness of Team members.
Shaping pitch narrative from the Social Impact angle.
Monetization and commercialization techniques rooted in the game project.
Cooperation with Game Producer, Game Marketer, Publisher

Module 7 – Diploma Project

Curious about this COURSE?

If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to reach out: [email protected]