Games Research and Education (M.Sc. and Ph.D.)
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.
Find us on …
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.
Blog What we have been up to lately
Fictional Games out with Bloomsbury Publishing
Fictional Games: A Philosophy of Worldbuilding and Imaginary Play is the title of a new, exciting volume published by Bloomsbury Publishing. It combines perspectives from game studies, literary theory, the philosophy of fiction, film studies and … read more
Instruction video for "Construction BOOM!"
The ever delightful Eleni Papadopoulou (also known as Cardboard Rhino) made an instruction video for "Construction BOOM!", a strategic 2-player tile-laying game made here at the Institute of Digital Games. "Construction BOOM!" is a playable satire of the … read more
Modl.ai, Spin-out startup from the Institute of Digital …
Modl.ai, founded by Professor Georgios N. Yannakakis, Director of the Institute of Digital Games – University of Malta, ranked as top 100 most promising AI company in the world, has raised $8.4 million (€8.5 million) in a series A funding. The round was … read more
FDG2022 and the Institute of Digital Games
The Institute of Digital Games has, for a few days, moved to Athens, Greece. Nothing to worry about, as we are happy to continue to do research and education in Malta. The Institute's presence was crucial, in those days, for what … read more
IDG at Gamescom 2022
Renato Carvalho, our research support officer for the Institute of Digital Games went to Cologne, Germany, last week to represent the University of Malta and share all the work and research that is going on at the Institute at GamesCom … read more
New publication on musical improvisation with digital games …
Dr. Costantino Oliva, Lecturer and Course Coordinator at the Institute of Digital Games, is the author of “Otogarden: Exploring Musical Improvisation in Video Games”, an article published in the Journal of Sound and Music in Video Games, University of … read more