In recent years, scholars have begun to interrogate the application of games in academia from various levels: design, critique, learning and also as a means of assessment. Through the process of play, learners can learn and problem-solve. Play also invokes powerful emotions in players that provide incentive, motivation, and engagement not found in most other forms of learning. 

This has resulted in the recent "serious games" movement. Serious games are games which are built for a purpose beyond just entertainment or entertainment games that can be reapplied for serious purposes, including games for learning, games for health and games for change.