A serious game is a game designed to teach players something. It can cover any subject: safety, teamwork or financial literacy. Instead of theory, participants are given an interactive experience in which they get to try things out for themselves.

Gamification is the application of game elements in a non-game environment. Examples include earning points by completing specific tasks or playing a serious game during a training course to learn about sustainable business practices, for instance. In companies, gamification is often used to engage employees more actively and make learning processes more effective, but also to encourage behavioural change.

Developing an effective serious game requires expertise in both game design and learning strategies. An external partner such as Wakaaro brings experience in interactive training, gamification and practical case studies. By working together, you benefit from: • Proven methods that deliver real results • Time and cost efficiency, as you don’t have to start from scratch • Tailor-made solutions that align with your company’s specific learning objectives It is technically possible to create a serious game yourself, but it takes a great deal of time and specialist knowledge to develop a game that truly engages employees and facilitates learning. Collaborating with an experienced partner significantly shortens this process and increases the impact of the training.

Gamification boosts engagement. Employees are more active, retain more information and apply what they’ve learnt in practice more quickly. Unlike traditional training courses, it is not a passive experience, but a learning process through doing. We like to compare this to the work of a baker: you only really learn how to make a cake by actually making it. Not by reading a recipe or watching an instructional video. So why do we expect someone to be able to perform a certain task simply after viewing 30 slides? Gamification and serious games provide a safe environment in which players can acquire knowledge and must apply it immediately. You’re given the recipe and have to get started straight away – which makes learning more practical, efficient and fun!

Yes! Serious games and gamification can be used in any business. Bespoke solutions are fully tailored to the needs of the business and the objective to be achieved. With off-the-shelf serious games, the subject matter is, of course, predetermined. However, it is often possible to apply a certain degree of personalisation. An example such as SDGame (www.sdgame.eu)contains various case studies, meaning it can be used across a wide range of sectors.

A good serious game is developed with the target audience in mind. It is important to know who will be playing the game, what the learning objective is, and how best to reach the employees. Colleagues from different departments or branches may find it difficult to gather physically around a single game board. For employees with limited time, a shorter or simpler version may be more suitable. Serious games usually offer customisation options, such as different difficulty levels. This allows employees who already have more knowledge to play a more challenging version, whilst others learn at their own pace.

No. Gamification and serious games are developed based on the learning objective, not on the medium. Sometimes a digital solution is ideal, but often a card or board game, an escape room or a team-building activity works just as well. The objective determines which format is most effective. The choice of format can also affect the budget, and this is usually taken into account during the design phase. Experienced partners, such as Wakaaro, can utilise various formats to achieve the learning objective, from physical games to digital apps, ensuring that every project is delivered effectively and within budget.

The cost of a serious game or gamification initiative depends heavily on the project, and certainly on its scope, but a suitable solution can be found for virtually any budget. It goes without saying that a complex VR game will cost more than a simple card game, but both can achieve the same objective. Off-the-shelf solutions such as SDGame (www.sdgame.eu)or Working Capital Challenge (/working-capital-challenge)are usually cheaper than developing a new, fully bespoke serious game. A suitable approach is available for every budget, and experienced partners can advise on the most effective solution within the available resources.