Physical board game versus digital game: Comparison of game experiences between two types of serious games on community mobility for mobility device users and travel companions

HERL-Town is a game-based training tool designed to educate mobility device users (MDUs) and their travel companions about transportation barriers and compensatory strategies, focusing on decision-making, problem-solving, and wheelchair skills to promote safe, independent community mobility. The game currently offers a validated physical board game and an alternative digital game to suit different training settings. This study aimed to compare the gameplay experience of both games. In this cross-sectional crossover study, 43 MDUs and travel companions completed session 1, in which they were randomized to either a board game or a digital game group. Twenty-nine participants completed session 2, in which they played the other type of game from session 1. Participants rated their game experience after each session using the Model for the Evaluation of Educational Games (MEEGA+) questionnaire. In session 1, the MEEGA+ scores for both games met good-level criteria (board game: 57.10, digital game: 59.30). In session 2, the board game reached excellent-level criteria (77.55), while the digital game stayed at good level (58.15). Findings highlight consistent game quality between the board and digital games, when playing for the first time. The board game's higher quality in session 2 suggests further improvement in the digital game's mechanics.