Designing an Online Escape Game for Older Adults: The Implications of Playability Testing Sessions with a Variety of Dutch Players

Abstract

This study evaluated the playability of an online escape game designed using a User-Centred Design (UCD) process for older adult players aged 65 and older. The participants were 30 Dutch older adults who played the game in pairs on tablets over 15 game sessions. The data were collected through surveys, interviews, and observation field notes. The results indicated that, overall, the players enjoyed the game. They enjoyed the collaborative nature of the game and the game challenges the most. They also thought that the game story is engaging. However, the evaluation revealed that the game controller was a source of frustration and that the goals of several of the game tasks were not clear for the players. Moreover, it seems that the game needs to be customizable so that each pair of players could determine the pace and difficulty level of the game.