Games Research and Education (M.Sc. and Ph.D.)
Welcome to the Institute of Digital Games, the research and education centre at the University of Malta, focusing on game design, game analysis, and game technology!
Our work is at the forefront of innovative games research. We explore games and play, uncovering new playful and generative possibilities in game design and technology. We delve into everything games can teach us about ourselves.
Our multidisciplinary academic team spans computer science, literature, game design, philosophy, media studies, and social sciences.
Click here to read our annual report for the year 2022/2023.
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"Studying at the IDG it’s been one of the best experiences of my life, and has been foundational to my academic growth. The game studies and game design courses provided me with a solid theoretical grounding, and the network of opportunities around academia."
"One of the most impactful aspects of the Institute on my career has been its emphasis on interdisciplinary research and collaboration. The lecturers have diverse backgrounds and expertise, and this fosters a stimulating environment for exploring the multifaceted aspects of game research and development. The research-driven approach has enabled me to contribute critically to discussions with my colleagues."
"Studying at the IDG has really been an experience better than I could have ever asked for. Not only because it aligns with my goals from as long as I remember, but also because the content and support I have received while studying there has always been stellar."
Blog What we have been up to lately
On Conceptual Games: A Talk by Prof. Stefano Gualeni at …
Recently, Prof. Stefano Gualeni was invited to Ghent to deliver a talk titled On Conceptual Games, hosted by Prof. Marco Caracciolo. The talk examined how video games can serve as a medium for theoretical knowledge in game studies, making them … read more
Malta Global Game Jam - Hackathon for designers, artists, …
Registrations are open for the Malta Global Game Jam 2025! Are you creative in Malta, then this is the event to put your skills to the ultimate test: design a game in 48 hours. Games require such a diverse set of skills from artists to programmers that if … read more
Prof. Stefano Gualeni Takes 'Il Videogioco del …
Prof. Stefano Gualeni is taking his newest book, Il Videogioco del Mondo (The Videogame That Is the World), on a tour across Italy. For those who’ve followed his work and are curious to learn more, this is the perfect opportunity for you to connect with his … read more
HOMO LUDENS LUDENS (Event, Oct. 22)
As part of the XXIV edition of the ‘Settimana della Lingua Italiana’ (Week of the Italian Language ), the Institute of Italian Culture in Valletta is proud to host a panel of game scholars that will explore the theme of “play” in … read more
Science in the City 2024 - AI-powered learning and …
The annual Science and the City Festival connects research with science on the bastions of Valletta. Curious visitors were able to interact with some of the ongoing research at the Institute of Digital Games such as a recycling data-game, … read more
Innovative AI research by Institute of Digital Games …
IDG PhD students Nemanja Rasajski and Chintan Trivedi won the NVIDIA Best Paper Award at the 2024 European Conference on Computer Vision, where their innovative approach addressed the one of the big challenges of AI - namely having AI models understand … read more