When we talk about future-facing skills, communication is always near the top of the list. Whether you’re negotiating terms in a group project, explaining your reasoning to a teacher, or pitching a creative idea to a client, being able to clearly express what you mean (and mean what you express) is an indispensable skill. But how do we teach communication, especially to learners who might be shy, new to a subject, or still figuring out the vocabulary? This may shock you, but we have an answer – and the answer is game-based learning.
Let’s start with a case from Newcastle University, where chemistry faculty designed a structure-drawing game called CHEMmunicate for their first-year students. The setup is deceptively simple: teams try to identify an organic molecule using only yes/no questions. But behind that simplicity is a complex set of collaborative behaviors. Students negotiate what to ask, how to draw conclusions from partial answers, and how to refine hypotheses in real time. According to student feedback, 97% enjoyed the sessions, and 93% reported feeling more confident in their scientific communication afterward. More than just a chemistry review, CHEMmunicate encourages students to articulate precise technical ideas while building camaraderie with peers.
Dr. Micah Shippee, a longtime social studies teacher and current education leader at Samsung, has seen firsthand how educational tools can boost student expression by reshaping the dynamics of the classroom. At this year’s FETC conference, he shared that using ed tech in game-like formats helped his students not only demonstrate content mastery but also practice real-world communication. When tech went awry, instead of hiding the problem, he’d talk students through his troubleshooting, modeling resilience and reflective communication. According to Shippee, learning how to talk through a failure is as valuable as knowing how to avoid one.
At the University of the Philippines Los Baños, Assistant Professor Mariyel Hiyas Liwanag has created a tabletop game called Isabuhay, which serves a dual purpose: revitalize endangered Filipino languages and teach communication through structured role play. In the game, players take on the roles of teachers, researchers, agency reps, and language advocates. Each player brings unique resources to solve in-game challenges derived from real-world language loss scenarios. The design encourages discourse around contemporary and historical events, from mining displacements to educational policies, all while reinforcing team-based communication strategies. It’s a powerful example of how games can go beyond skills training and into the realm of cultural dialogue and identity building.
Finally, zooming out to the macro level, the newly founded Karch Gaming Institute at UT Austin offers a case study in institutional investment in communication via games. With a $5 million gift from industry veteran Matt Karch, the program is launching new coursework on the business and usability of gaming, designed specifically to teach students how to work across disciplines. That includes storytelling, interface design, and production workflows, each of which hinges on the ability to communicate clearly with both technical and non-technical collaborators.
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At Filament Games, we specialize in designing game-based learning experiences that cultivate real-world competencies like communication, collaboration, and critical thinking. If you’re looking to create a game that helps players speak up, reach out, or work better together, we’d love to talk.
Contact us to start the conversation.