Games Research and Education (M.Sc. and Ph.D.)

Apply here

Welcome to the Institute of Digital Games, the research and education centre at the University of Malta, focusing on game design, game analysis, and game technology!

Our work is at the forefront of innovative games research. We explore games and play, uncovering new playful and generative possibilities in game design and technology. We delve into everything games can teach us about ourselves.

Our multidisciplinary academic team spans computer science, literature, game design, philosophy, media studies, and social sciences.

Click here to read our annual report for the year 2022/2023.

David developed an innovative model for understanding board game involvement for his thesis.

It is an environment roaring with ideas, thoughts, games, prototypes, concepts. It was a period when I felt constantly inspired.

Rebecca is researching narrative in games. As part of her thesis, she developed a choice-driven video game.

Practice in the form of game project assignments and a supportive teaching staff really boost your confidence as a game designer!

The Institute feels like a little community that you're part of.

William's research explored the procedural generation of multi-floor levels for first-person shooters.

Being involved in the research process, I realised how passionate everyone at IDG is about their research.

David C.
Graduated in 2015
Rebecca P.
Graduated in 2017
William C.
Graduated in 2015

Blog What we have been up to lately

Podcast: the transformative effects of game design

June 16, 2016

Stefano recently participated in a podcast organized by Italian game scholars Riccardo Fassone and Mauro Salvador concerning the transformative effects of designing videogames, playing videogames, and studying videogames. Stefano, Riccardo, and … read more

  • Tagged:
  • Event

The Art of Game Design in California

June 15, 2016

Last night, at the main campus of the Laguna College of Art and Design (Laguna Beach, California), IDG's own Stefano Gualeni inaugurated his summer course for their MFA in Game Design. The course is titled 'Game Design: theories, methods, and other lies' and … read more

  • Tagged:
  • Staff Work

New work opportunities for M.Sc. in Digital Games

June 14, 2016

The Institute of Digital Games has announced a new collaboration with Maltco Lotteries, who will sponsor paid research assistant positions for talented students of our M.Sc. in Digital Games over the next two years. Current and future students of the M.Sc. … read more

IDG student work featured in new video

June 9, 2016

Work by current and past students of the M.Sc. in Digital Games is featured in a new video produced by the University of Malta and the Institute of Digital Games.

Visit Youtube to check out the new video!

  • Tagged:
  • Student Work

Deadline extension for POCG16

May 26, 2016

The deadline for abstract submissions to the 10th International Conference in the Philosophy of Computer Games, being held at the University of Malta, November 1-4 2016, is being extended by ten days. The new deadline is 23:59 GMT on … read more

  • Tagged:
  • Event

IDG team wins the MVGSA videogames quiz night

May 26, 2016

A team of IDG faculty and PhD students put their extensive knowledge of videogames to good use, winning this year's annual Malta Video Game Studios Association quiz night on the 19th of May. Hooray!

  • Tagged:
  • Event
  • Staff Work