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
Research in Deep Learning awarded at IEEE Transactions on …
Staff members of the Institute of Digital Games were awarded a Runner-up prize for their journal paper "From the Lab to the Wild: Affect Modeling Via Privileged Information" from the highly prestigious IEEE Transactions on Affective Computing. … read more
Empathy in Silicon: Giving Voice to Feeling through …
Join us on 6th June at 14:00 at the Institute of Digital Games, as Prof. Björn Schuller takes us on a journey to the heart of affective Generative AI — where emotion meets imagination, and science meets soul. Building Emotionally Aware Machines As … read more
Research in Generative Art presented at the EvoStar …
Two members of staff attended the EvoStar conference which took place in Trieste, Italy during April 23-25 2025. EvoStar actually acts as an umbrella term for four conferences focused on computational intelligence and artifical evolution: EuroGP (European … read more
Research in Procedural Content Generation presented at the …
Two members of staff attended the 20th Foundations of Digital Games Conference which took place in Vienna & Graz, Austria during April 15-18 2025. Prof. Antonios Liapis presented the paper "Diverse Level Generation via Machine Learning … read more
Chargé d’Affaires Mr. Yamaguchi from the Embassy of …
On 10th April, Mr. Tadahiko Yamaguchi, Chargé d’Affaires from the Embassy of Japan to Malta, paid a visit to the Institute of Digital Games, where he was received by IDG Director Dr. Daniel Vella. Also present during the meeting were … read more
RECLAIM game showcased at the Plastics Recycling Show Europe
The Institute of Digital Games showcased the Recycling Data Game developed as part of the EU-funded RECLAIM project at the Plastics Recycling Show Europe, which took place in Amsterdam on April 1 and 2, 2025. The Recycling Data Game was among the three … read more