An approach for serious game design and development based on iterative evaluation

Abstract Serious games (SGs) are valuable tools for learning, training, and improving skills in various domains because they engage and motivate players to achieve planned processes to reach objectives. Several works provided methods, models, and frameworks to support SG development. However, designers, developers, teachers, and researchers face challenges in creating SG with entertainment and learning balance, and many designed games still do not fulfill the main intended objectives. This paper introduces an approach, called SGDA‐IE with phases and steps to follow during the entire SG design process. It was built on literature review and SG design challenges designers need to consider from the early stages when creating SG. The proposed approach is founded on three perspectives: software engineering best practices, video game industry practices, and SG success factors and provides means to overcome the investigated design challenges. These are characteristics taxonomy model, requirements specification approach, and artifacts iterative evaluation by designer, domain expert, and players. To assess our approach efficacy, we conceived a health, safety, and environment (HSE) training SG for workers on fuel storage sites and petroleum installations. The feedback received is positive and indicates a favorable specification method of the SG, effective participatory design, and control over requirements evolution. The SG playtesting reveals a significant involvement of participants and efficient tracking of the knowledge acquisition.