Game Design Uppsala University

Overview

Emphasis is put on games' societal impact with themes such as ethical game design, meaning-making, representation, inclusion and social justice.

Key Features

In the Master's Programme in Game Design at Uppsala University, Campus Gotland, the emphasis is on teaching active game literacy. The aim is for students to be able to responsibly use the expressive and conceptual potential of games and become aware of their impact on society.

Active game literacy means the ability to understand games deeply from a theoretical as well as a practical perspective. It includes being able to analyse existing games, design new play experiences, and gain insight into and awareness of the contexts in which games are created and played. 

Active game literacy also includes understanding how games can affect their players through rules, mechanics, themes, narrative and audio-visual design.

Careers

With the particular approach to the integration of theory and practice, we aim to strike a balance that opens up numerous career pathways for the students. 

Students can enter the game industry themselves, should they already come with a background in game development, or go the academic route. The skills and knowledge gained from the programme can be applied to all areas and professions that require effective, compelling communication, leadership and problem-solving skills.

This degree is best suited for those who use it as a complement to already existing skills or in an established profession where a deepened, critical, active game literacy - including games' expressive potential and impact on society - is of particular relevance.

Graduating from the Master's Programme in Game Design, you can harness the benefits of games and play to communicate important ideas, engage in further studies at the PhD level and/or shape the public conversation around this medium. 

This equips the alumni to act as consultants for the game industry as well as to contribute to an informed public conversation and more in-depth use of games as a medium.