Serious games combine a serious intention with a playful implementation. Video games, board games or role-playing games are no longer solely used as a form of entertainment. They are also used tools for education and learning. Serious games exist in many sectors of activity such as health, education, and advertising. In the political arena, they are also used to denounce abuses or support a cause and are sometimes called political games.
Serious games are now popular because they make the participant active, thus promoting learning and understanding of the information disseminated. They are particularly used for employee training, for example. In the medical field, they may be called therapeutic games, which help to treat pathologies or slow down the effects of certain illnesses, particularly neurological disorders.
Whatever the purpose of serious games, the target audience must be considered for an optimal translation. Whether the games are intended for children or adults, translating serious games requires special skills and a great deal of contextual awareness. The way a message is conveyed to a 5-year-old will not be the same as to a 16-year-old or a 40-year-old. It is therefore important to adapt to the game’s target audience to choose the right terms and vocabulary.