Tied Routes: Designing a Serious Game on Migration and Constraint

Representations of migration often rely on linear routes, statistics, and crisis-oriented framings that overlook the fragmented, affective, and material dimensions of displacement. This thesis explores how game design can offer an alternative way of engaging with these complexities by modelling uncertainty, interrupted movement, and emotional attachment through play. Drawing on insights from game studies and migration studies, the project develops Tied Routes, a hybrid physical–digital game prototype. Rather than simulating specific migration routes, the prototype translates themes such as fragmented journeys, temporary dwelling, and the significance of personal objects into mechanics, aesthetics, and material interactions. The design follows Jesse Schell’s Four Elements framework—mechanics, story, aesthetics, and technology—to structure how theoretical ideas are transformed into a playable form. The prototype was evaluated through individual play sessions with thirteen participants. Observations and a short questionnaire captured how players interacted with the system and how they interpreted its themes. The results show that the emotional dimension of selecting, carrying, and losing objects was consistently understood and often provoked moments of reflection. In contrast, the representation of fragmented routes was less immediately clear: several participants struggled with the spatial layout and relied heavily on the digital interface for guidance. These findings highlight both the potential and the limitations of using game design to communicate aspects of migration. They also point to concrete improvements, such as clarifying spatial cues, refining event dynamics, and making object selection more personal or abstract. Overall, the project suggests that game design can function not only as a representational medium but as a method for engaging with the complexities of displacement through interactive, material, and affective experience.