The Digital Game Design & Board Game Design category at INNOVATE GERMANY focuses on the creative design and development of games that serve educational, cognitive, health-related, or socially beneficial purposes. This category encourages participants to explore how games can be powerful tools for learning, problem-solving, mental development, and positive social interaction.
Projects in this category may include digital games as well as physical (manual) board (card) gamesdesigned to be played in schools, kindergartens, libraries, families, or community spaces. Games do not need to be digital; well-designed non-digital games are equally welcome.
Game Design Focus
Projects may address themes such as:
- Education and learning (educational games, classroom tools)
- Health and well-being (awareness, prevention, mental health support)
- Cognitive development (logic, strategy, creativity, memory)
- Entertainment with meaningful content
- Family, school, or community-based interaction
Games should be engaging, accessible, and age-appropriate, with clearly defined goals, rules, and mechanics.
Digital & Physical Game Development
Participants may design:
- Digital games (computer, mobile, or web-based)
- Board games or tabletop games (similar in concept to strategy or educational board games)
- Hybrid games combining physical and digital elements
Board games should include:
- Game rules and instructions
- Game mechanics and objectives
- Designed components (board, cards, tokens, etc.)
Digital games should be playable and demonstrable, even if developed as prototypes.
Research Paper Flexibility
Projects in this category may prepare their research papers differently from MINT (STEM) projects.
- General research paper rules still apply (clarity, originality, ethics)
- Participants may define their own section headings according to the nature of their project
- Research papers may focus on:
- Game concept and objectives
- Design process and development stages
- Educational, cognitive, or social impact
- User testing or gameplay feedback
- Reflection and future improvements
Creativity in structure is encouraged, as long as the paper remains well-organized and academic.
Ethics & Social Responsibility
All games must:
- Follow ethical principles and age-appropriate standards
- Promote positive values and responsible behavior
- Avoid violence, discrimination, or harmful content
- Contribute positively to individuals, communities, or humanity
Games should aim to educate, support development, or create meaningful engagement, not harm.
Subtopics
Projects in this category may include, but are not limited to:
- Educational and Learning Games
- Health and Well-Being Games
- Cognitive and Strategy Games
- Serious Games and Gamification
- Digital Game Development
- Board and Tabletop Game Design
- Hybrid Digital–Physical Games