Serious game
Custom serious game conception
Are you looking to try a serious game approach in your company to implement a change management strategy, evolve your processes, or improve coordination between your different departments? Then you might be looking for an agency specializing in custom serious game conception. And that’s perfect, because that’s exactly what Collock offers! For nearly 10 years, we’ve been supporting companies worldwide with tailor-made games adapted to their specific challenges and needs.
Serious game – Definition
Serious Game – Goals
Serious Game – HR uses
Collock’s method
What is a serious game?
A serious game is a game designed for a primary purpose other than pure entertainment. In a business or educational context, it combines the mechanics of play with specific objectives such as training, awareness, onboarding or team building. It uses a simple idea: when people are immersed in a narrative or challenged by a goal in a playful setting, they learn more effectively and retain information longer.
Unlike traditional training methods, which often rely on passive consumption of content, serious games engage users actively. They offer real-time decision-making and consequences that mimic real-world situations. By so, they are ideal for soft skills development, complex process simulation and behavioral change. And that’s why Collock specialized in custom serious game conception: because we truly believe in the strengths of this approach.
The persuasive dimension
Highlight a message through visuals and audio assets.
The informative dimension
Enable the player to learn by interacting with the message.
The educative dimension
Communicate a message or train a player. The most important one.
Serious games are serious matters
Advergaming
Communicate a message for an educational, informative or persuasive purpose.
Practice serious games
Improve players’ cognitive and motor performances through stimulation.
Training serious games
Teach and develop behavioural or technical knowledge and skills. Also called learning games
What are the potential benefits of serious games?
Serious games have the potential to impact various areas of business performance. First and foremost, they enhance learning outcomes. The interactive nature of a game-based experience creates stronger cognitive connections, improves memorization and encourages long-term retention of knowledge.
They also contribute to higher engagement levels. Because participants feel like active players rather than passive learners, their motivation increases. This is especially important in corporate environments where training can feel repetitive.
Moreover, serious games encourage transformation. They allow users to experiment, make mistakes in a risk-free setting and reflect on their actions. For example, a serious game focusing on ethical decision-making can help employees understand dilemmas they might face and how to resolve them.
From a managerial standpoint, serious games can offer valuable insights into user behavior. Analytics integrated into the experience can help HR or learning departments identify skill gaps, strong performers or potential development areas.
Finally, serious games help strengthen team cohesion and collaboration when designed for group play.
Our custom serious game conception process
Analysis and learning objectives
The starting point of any custom serious game made by our team is understanding the need behind it. What is your company trying to achieve? Are we aiming to train, to evaluate, to engage or all of the above? This initial phase can involve workshops, interviews and a thorough analysis of the learning or communication objectives.
We work closely with learning and development professionals to define measurable KPIs and ensure alignment with the overall training strategy. This phase lays the foundation for an experience that is fun and meaningful.
Game mechanics definition
Once the objectives are clear, the next step is to determine the most suitable game mechanics. Should the serious game be a simulation? A collaborative escape game? A scenario-based decision-making game? A digital quiz adventure?
Each format serves a different purpose. For instance, a branching narrative may be ideal for leadership training, while a team-based challenge might work better for onboarding new employees. We also consider factors such as the number of participants or the expected duration of the session.
Design, development and testing
This is where creativity meets pedagogy. We design the game’s narrative structure, visual identity and interactive features. Every element, from storyline and missions to characters and rewards, is tailored to serve the learning objectives and keep players engaged.
During the custom serious game conception, our designers, instructional experts and developers work in synergy to build a cohesive and functional game. We create prototypes and test them extensively with users to refine gameplay, difficulty levels and clarity of instructions.
Deployment
Once finalized, the game is ready for launch. Depending on your needs, we can facilitate the deployment with training platforms or through dedicated web apps. We also provide facilitator guides, onboarding materials and technical support to ensure smooth adoption.
Why work with our serious game design agency?
Designing a successful custom serious game requires a multidisciplinary approach. And at Collock, we have expertises in the fields of pedagogy, game design and corporate strategy. We don’t just build games; we create experiences that align with your training goals and business objectives.
Our team brings together learning designers, graphic artists, UX/UI experts, writers and developers to ensure that every element of the game contributes to engagement and effectiveness.
Most importantly, we understand that a serious game must be both fun and useful. That’s why we work hand-in-hand with your team, from ideation to rollout, to craft tailor-made solutions that deliver concrete results, and so, whether you’re aiming to upskill teams, foster inclusion, support onboarding or guide employees through complex change.
By choosing Collock for your custom serious game conception, you’re partnering with a team committed to bringing your people together through the power of play.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between a serious game and gamification?
Gamification involves applying game-like elements (like points, badges or leaderboards) to non-game contexts. A serious game, by contrast, is a full-fledged game created with a specific educational or training purpose. It offers a more immersive and structured experience.
How long does it take to create a custom serious game?
Depending on the complexity and scope, a custom serious game can take anywhere from a few weeks to several months to design and develop. We work in close collaboration with clients to ensure timelines fit their internal planning.
Are serious games suitable for all industries?
Yes. We’ve worked with clients in healthcare, retail, education, tech, banking and more. The adaptability of serious games makes them effective across sectors, as long as they are tailored to the audience and context.
Want to profit from our custom serious game conception service? Don’t wait anymore and contact our team now!