Game Design as Moral Playground: AI, Emergence, and Civic Learning

In an interview with SLEEK, game design professor Dr. Linda Breitlauch argues that video games are more than entertainment: they are spaces for moral negotiation, democratic learning, and collective problem-solving. Breitlauch, who teaches at Trier University of Applied Sciences and researches interactive storytelling and serious games, highlights AI-driven emergent game design as a key trend, where worlds change dynamically based on player behavior, enabling individualized experiences. She emphasizes that games can simulate complex systems—such as climate change or urban development—allowing players to see consequences of decisions in real time. Serious games like 'Banished' (where players decide whether to accept refugees) teach systemic and moral responsibility without didacticism. Breitlauch notes that games foster agency and self-efficacy, countering feelings of powerlessness in contemporary society. She also points to 'Games for Science' initiatives, where non-experts contribute to research (e.g., modeling protein structures). The interview touches on psychological immersion, the shift from linear storytelling to collaborative real-time experiences, and the rise of 'cozy games' as a response to crisis fatigue. Breitlauch recommends three games: 'Frostpunk' (survival and social justice), 'This War of Mine' (civilian wartime perspective), and 'Through the Darkest of Times' (resistance against National Socialism). The piece is accompanied by photography by Helene Ander.