Playing games is an inherent part of children’s lives as it impacts several aspects of their physical and mental development. Technological advances have been manifesting new and exciting avenues of interaction when children play games, ranging from board and card games, to video games that are played on mobile devices, virtual and augmented reality (VR/AR) headsets, robotic systems, and social agents.

These games encompass a wide range of applications aiming to provide educational benefits, promote development, enhance well-being, or simply enjoy leisure time. Along with the fun and excitement, these advancements also bring unique challenges in the game design process due to the inclusion of complex technology, the maximization of the players’ engagement and expectations and interests of the children.

The player-centric approach of co-designing games with the target audience has a unique position as it involves creating the games for and with the children, allowing them to act as an equal stakeholder rather than simple users or informants. This half-day workshop aims to expose the researchers to collaborative techniques used in game design to create interactive and playful activities for children that involve contemporary technologies such as AR/VR and social agents.