from Game Dev | To inspire moral reflection, we as game designers have to go against players’ inherent instinct to make strategic decisions and break a few fundamental game design principles along the way.
Video games have a great potential to support moral development. Playing is a crucial part of learning and developing behavioral patterns. Through play, one can safely test out behaviors and decisions without facing actual consequences. Moreover, a guided form of play, as provided by video games, can lead the player through a set of intentionally designed experiences. These experiences can become unique learning opportunities when they provide players with powers or roles they’d usually not be able to have.