It’s all fun and games: Contemporary newsgames and journalism

This article explores how newsgames offer meaningful engagement during an era of news avoidance and the declining impact of traditional journalism. It examines the history and evolution of newsgames, such as September 12th and The Uber Game , which blend interactivity with procedural rhetoric to engage audiences with complex issues like global conflicts and social crises. Part 2 of the article focuses on the creation of Ramping Rush: Ambulance Rescue , a newsgame addressing ambulance ramping developed through the University of South Australia’s virtual internship programme. Using a research-led practice methodology, the game integrates real-world data and ethical decision-making to enhance engagement with hyperlocal content. The study highlights how newsgames can bridge gaps in audience engagement, particularly among younger, digital-first users, by combining storytelling with interactive gameplay. Despite challenges such as technological limitations and resource constraints, the article advocates for newsgames as useful tools for contemporary journalism and education.