Teaching and learning game design with the concept of gameplay loops.

The article focuses on the gameplay loop methodology as a teaching and learning tool in academic games education, emphasizing its role in analyzing and designing gameplay, the core feature of digital games. Through a case study at the Cologne Game Lab’s Bachelor Digital Games program, the methodology was introduced to first-semester students and subsequently applied voluntarily in collaborative game development projects, demonstrating its accessibility and potential to bridge theory and practice. While students generally adopted the approach effectively across diverse game genres, challenges remained in distinguishing macro/micro gameplay loops and In-Game/Out-Game Actions, indicating areas for pedagogical improvement. The methodology’s narrow, gameplay-centered focus complements broader game design frameworks by addressing the formal knowledge gap among students from varied specializations and can be adapted for educational and amateur settings. Overall, the gameplay loop methodology offers a formalized yet flexible and creative framework to enhance understanding and communication of gameplay in game design education.