Games for Change Comes to Singapore: Envisioning New Learning and Impact Possibilities

Reinvention is a constant in education and technology, from the chalkboard to the cloud classroom. Each generation of educators has changed the ways that knowledge is created and shared. 

As we stand on the next leap-from games and immersive experience as entertainment to games and immersive experiences as catalysts for learning, invention, and social benefit-we are at the beginning of something transformational.

That vision came to life on August 21st, 2025, when MAGES Institute co-hosted the inaugural Games for Change Social in Singapore at SCAPE with “Games for Change”. 

The outdoor evening event brought together game developers, educators, designers, and changemakers across Asia to discuss the ways in which interactive media can inspire ideas, drive change, and have an impact at scale.

While the evening was not just about play, it was the beginning of a movement.

Highlights from the “Games for Change” Social

Getting into Play (Psychology)

Hakopi, a studio in Singapore, shared how their tabletop design is informed by behavioral science to make experiences intuitive, safe, and truly meaningful—to create a game that becomes a lever for actual behavioral change.

Understanding Games for Learning

Press Start Studios and Press Start Academy shared their award-winning game-based learning experiences, which connect the classroom to real-world problem-solving, including challenges related to climate change, cultural understanding, and collaborative learning.

Connected Globally

“Games for Change” discussed their global initiatives across education, climate, health, and justice, demonstrating to participants that what is happening in Singapore is part of a broader global ecosystem of changemakers and creators.

Shared Vision

Most importantly, the biggest takeaway of the evening was how games are not merely played. They are emerging as a new form of landscape for change, where design, storytelling, and immersive technology come together to address important issues.

Beyond Inspiration: Building What’s Next

There was a palpable sense of belief in the potential of games for impact at the event. However, belief isn’t enough. Bringing your vision to life will require three mandates:

1. New Skill Sets – Designers, educators, and creators who are able to integrate learning theory, narrative, and technical skill in XR and immersive media.
2. Cross-functional Collaboration – Partnerships that bring together educators, technologists, policymakers, and industry leaders in ways that are able to scale solutions.
3. Sustainable Frameworks – Ecosystems where ideas do not just live as pilots, but can develop into sustainable, impactful platforms.

At MAGES, we do not just view ourselves as educators. We see ourselves as enablers of the movement. Through MILE3, our creative tech incubator, our XR labs, and our global partnerships, we are underway to build the talent and infrastructure that the future of games for impact can rest on.

As one participant said: “We are not adapting, we are inventing.”

The Journey Ahead

“Games for Change” Singapore was more than a showcase of prototypes; it was a representation of what is possible when creativity and purpose come together.

The next 10 years will determine if impact games become isolated pilot projects or become the essential infrastructure around how we learn, collaborate, and respond to global issues.

At MAGES, we are betting on the latter. We are building the talent, tools, and ecosystems that will ensure that Singapore is not only part of the movement but one that shapes it.

However, this vision can only come to life if connections continue to be made between educators and technologists, designers and policymakers, and mentees and mentors.

Keep in touch. Attend an XR workshop. Share your ideas. Help invent the next wave of games that will not only amuse us but also help change our behaviors around how we live, learn, and connect.

The movement has just begun. The only question is, did we do it together—and how fast?