Leveling up: the influence of game design on education and social justice

The relationship between games, education, and social transformation demands increasingly nuanced consideration as we progress deeper into what some have termed the Ludic Century.Stenros and Kultima (2018) describe an explosive expan-sion of the ludosphere, one that manifests not only in the increasing pervasiveness of digital games and gamified experiences but also in the growing cultural significance of play across diverse societal domains. Yet this early stage of development and rapid expansion presents opportunities and challenges: while games’ influence grows, our epistemological frameworks and understanding often struggle to keep pace with this rapidly evolving phenomenon.