The Role of Digital Games in Supporting Children’s Engagement with Environmental Sustainability

Abstract

The current issue of sustainability poses a substantial global challenge that affects individuals on a global scale, with a particular vulnerability observed among children. The main purpose of this study is to reflect on the role of digital game design aspects and implementation in children's engagement with environmental sustainability (ES). To determine the outcome of this aim, I conducted a descriptive systematic review to analyse digital games research published throughout the span of five years (2018-2023) that explicitly examines the usage of children's digital games in the context of ES. The findings demonstrate the influence of the game-centred approach on children's level of engagement with ES, highlighting the emphasis on using game-based learning (GBL) to build children's understanding and promote deep learning. While also underlining the real-world connection through gamification, which enables sustainable actions. This review also identified gaming design trends and several essential drivers of children's engagement with ES like existing correlation between the use of distinct game design themes and game genres. Our analysis presents a unique research agenda highlighting the necessity of expanding the sustainability domains and user groups that are currently involved in research. It also proposes expansion in game genres that are currently utilised in ES research.