Peadom: An Endogenous Educational Game to Learn Hybridization and the Framework to Guide It

In recent years, advanced techniques and proficient design skills have led to the rise of many educational games. Among these, games for science learning hold a significant place. However, many games designed for science education suffer from rigid implementation and poor playability, failing to stimulate players’ interest and resulting in a limited educational impact. To address this, we propose the Endogenous Educational Games Design (EEGD) Framework. This framework guides designers in creating games around specific science themes, drawing on Ian Bogost’s Persuasive Games theory and subsequent research. The gameplay of educational games should naturally evolve from the chosen theme, providing players with an engaging virtual environment to explore, learn, and understand the given knowledge. We developed a game called Peadom based on this framework. This hybridization-learning game allows players to control a pea hero living on a remote island, trying to understand the chaos in Peadom by hybridizing with other peas, having conversations, and solving puzzles. Through this game, players can enjoy the gameplay while learning about genes, hybridization, and other genetic knowledge. They will also understand the importance of gene diversity for biological species and reflect on gene-related scenarios in everyday life.