Gaming to change the world? Serious Games and the refugee crisis

Abstract

This thesis aims to discuss serious games as instigators of social change. This paper will attempt to provide a better understanding of how serious games may contribute to social change, focusing on attitude change towards refugees. Here the term serious games will be used in such a way that it includes persuasive games and refugee games. Therefore, a definition for games called refugee games will be posited, specifying three different focuses. This thesis aims to be useful for scholars from various fields who are interested in seeing serious games not only as educative and informative devices but also as elements that can affect values, attitudes and ideas, as well as those who are more specifically interested in attitude and social change in connection with serious games.