Migrants, refugees, and forcibly displaced people in general are often portrayed in simplified and negative terms. Discourses surrounding border control, limitations to migration and rejection of otherness are not only prevalent in the media, but also find substantial representation in video games.

Yet, video games can also be used as unique platforms for fostering understanding and empathy, and offer alternative narratives, providing a window of opportunity to engage with the complex realities of migration.

Video games hold the potential to facilitate ethical reflection and encourage critical thinking, while enabling players to learn about migrants’ stories. By engaging with narratives of migration, contemporary video games present numerous opportunities for educational dialogue and reflection.

Promoting a positive video game culture involves viewing video games as cultural tools capable of enriching the lives of digital citizens in terms of entertainment, education, well-being, and personal development, and is a central element of Digital Citizenship Education.

EduTalks@Council of Europe: Migrancy, refugees and citizenship representations in video games, held online in June 2023, gave the opportunity to discuss this topic, and led to the creation of a Factsheet that provides an overview of the topic, while also bringing examples of such games and relevant resources.

Find the Factsheet here, and find out more about the Video Game Culture initiative at this link.