The International Conference on the Foundations of Digital Games (FDG)

Theme: Research through Games; Research for Games

The special theme for FDG 2026 is “Research through Games; Research for Games.” This theme highlights a core strength of FDG: bridging the gap between scientific and humanistic approaches to games research by exploring the dual role of games as both objects of study and powerful tools for discovery.

Research through Games recognizes that games are unique, controlled systems—or “petri dishes”—where we can experiment with and learn about human psychology, behaviour, culture, and social dynamics. They act as observable environments for understanding the human condition. We invite submissions exploring this facet, such as:

• Analytics and AI research using player data to model human decision-making or building believable agents to simulate human behaviour.
• Research on Games Beyond Entertainment demonstrating how serious games can serve as effective experimental models for learning, health, or civic engagement.
• Design and development work that creates novel mechanics specifically to elicit and observe particular human responses or socio-cultural phenomena.

Research for Games focuses on the analysis, design, and development of games themselves. By critically examining games and advancing the technologies and practices used to create them, we can build more engaging, effective, and meaningful experiences. We encourage submissions focused on this aspect, including:

• Technical contributions that provide new tools, engines, and platforms (e.g., in VR/AR) for creating more sophisticated and compelling games.
• Humanities-informed criticism that treats games to analyse how they cultivate, reflect, and challenge societal norms, ideologies, and cultural values.
• Research that furthers the practice of game design through the scholarly examination of game-making practices, patterns, mechanics, and aesthetics.

While all work related to digital games is welcome, special consideration will be given to submissions that relate to this year’s theme. Themes are open to interpretation; if you believe your work falls under this theme, please mark it as such on the submission portal.

Conference Tracks

• Technical Game Development: For research that advances game development practices, including engines, graphics, rendering, animation, networking, and novel interaction techniques (VR/AR).
• Game Design, Studio Practices, and Novel Player Experiences: For research that furthers the practice of game design and development through scholarly examination of game making practices, patterns, mechanics, dynamics, or aesthetics.
• Game Analytics and Visualization: For research related to data science, game analytics, game data visualization, and analysing player behaviour. This track directly engages the conference theme by treating games as data-rich environments to understand human activity.
• Game Artificial Intelligence: Focuses on the applications of AI to the playing, design, development, and testing of games, including game-playing AI, procedural content generation, believable agents, and AI-assisted design.
• Game Criticism and Analysis: Calls for papers that approach games from humanities-informed perspectives such as cultural studies, critical theory, and narrative or visual studies.
• Games Beyond Entertainment: For research on games where the primary goal is not entertainment, including serious games, educational games, games with a purpose, and gamification.
• Games Pedagogy: Concerned with the teaching of games, game development, and game-related concepts at all levels of education.
• Generative AI: Concerned with the use of generative AI for game development, analysis, and as subject of study.

Other Submission Categories

• Abstract Track: For scholars who wish to present work without having it published in the proceedings. Accepted abstracts will be given an oral presentation slot.
• Late Breaking Short Papers: For smaller scale studies, work in progress, and vision studies. Accepted papers are presented as posters and included in the proceedings.
• Games and Demos: A forum for demonstrations of games in various stages of development and technical demos of new tools and systems.
• Doctoral Consortium: An opportunity for PhD students to discuss their research with fellow students and senior faculty mentors.
• Workshop Proposals: FDG provides a venue for full-day or half-day workshops on emerging game-related topics, especially those that are interdisciplinary.
• Competition DEMO Proposals: A venue for the submission of community-driven solutions to complex game-related problems.
• Panel Proposals: Friendly debate-style panels that bring attention to emerging areas and topics are welcome, especially those that address the conference theme.