Design and Narrative Development of a Gamified Tool for Peace Education in the Colombian Post-Conflict

This article explores the conceptual and narrative design of an educational video game centred on the Colombian armed conflict, aiming to foster empathy and critical understanding among users. The development process followed a qualitative approach based on narrative analysis and user-centred design, integrating key phases of design thinking and the collection of historical testimonies to ensure an inclusive and sensitive representation of the experiences of those involved in the conflict. A total of 18 historical testimonies were collected through semi-structured interviews with individuals directly or indirectly affected by the conflict, including victims and former combatants. These narratives were analysed to identify key themes and structure them into an engaging and meaningful storytelling experience. The narrative design includes interconnected stories that allow users to explore different perspectives of the conflict, while the game mechanics encourage reflection on complex decisions and ethical dilemmas. The article concludes that the conceptual design met the proposed objectives, laying the groundwork for broader future implementations. The continuous evolution of gamification technologies and interactive storytelling presents both a challenge and an opportunity to maintain the educational tool’s relevance.