These Games Are Serious Business
These Games Are Serious Business
These Games Are Serious Business
February 17, 2026
Summary
Duke’s Pratt School of Engineering is using game design to reshape professional training through its Serious Games Design graduate course. Students in the Master of Game Design, Development & Innovation program partner with Duke Health clinicians to build functional prototypes for real medical training needs. Projects include Transfer Center Tycoon, which simulates urgent patient-transfer calls, and Pick Five, a diagnostic reasoning game focused on prioritizing patient questions and tests. The course runs like a professional studio, giving students experience with clients, workflows, testing, and impact. It also highlights how games can support education, healthcare, and interdisciplinary collaboration across Duke more broadly.
Reference
These games are serious business. (2026, February 17). Duke Today. https://today.duke.edu/2026/02/these-games-are-serious-business