ludology

1 9.9

The study of games, especially video games

noun
/luːˈdɑːlədʒi/

Specialized

: ludología

The field of ludology is rapidly growing.

Examples

The conference brought together leading scholars in ludology and interactive media.
As ludology gains popularity, more universities are offering courses devoted to the analysis of video games.
She is completing her master's thesis in ludology with a focus on role-playing games.
Many universities now offer ludology courses.
The study of ludology reveals the intricate ways in which video games engage players through interactive storytelling.
In her thesis, she focused on ludology to analyze how gameplay mechanics shape player experiences.
Researchers in ludology examine how different game designs influence player engagement and learning outcomes.

Synonyms

game studies

vsludology

Specialized

1 5.6

The study of games, especially video games, and their design and effect on society

focuses on theoretical inquiry and formal analysis of games rather than broad cultural topics

Surface Forms

ludology singular

ludologies plural

Morphology

ludology = ludo + logy

Although the suffix -logy clearly means 'study of', the combining form ludo- is not a productive everyday English base, so the meaning is not readily recoverable for an average B1 learner.

Etymology

The word ludology comes from the Latin ludus meaning 'play' or 'game' and the ending -logy meaning 'study', as in biology. So, ludology is the 'study of play', which is why it refers to the study of games, especially video games.