The Serious Play Conference comes to Europe for the first time. Dr. Philipp Busch, co-organizer of the first European edition in Mainz, unpacks what it takes to move game-based learning from niche enthusiasm to cross-sector cultural change — and what happens when the right people finally share a room.

1. Philipp Busch on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/philipp-busch/
2. Serious Play Conference Europe 2026. Mainz, 18–19 June 2026: https://eu.seriousplayconf.com/
3. Serious Play Conference North America. Durham, August 5-7 2026: https://seriousplayconf.com/homepage/
4. Sue Bohle – Founder of the Serious Play Conference – on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/suebohle/
5. Paul Darvasi on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/paul-darvasi-ph-d-431688126/
6. Elisa Navarro Chinchilla on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/elisachinch/
7. Gold Bug Interactive in Montreal: https://goldbuginteractive.com/
8. Mind Games – Philipp's company: https://www.mind-games.online
9. International Serious Play Awards: https://eu.seriousplayconf.com/awards/
10. Serious Play Conference on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/seriousplayconference
11. Serious Play Conference on Discord: https://discord.gg/xbT6kYCTqy
12. Philpp's book "Effective Serious Games Development. A Step-by-Step Guide for Beginners". Routledge, Abingdon, UK, 2025: https://www.routledge.com/Effective-Serious-Games-Development-A-Step-by-Step-Guide-for-Beginners/Busch/p/book/9781032610139
13. Meta-Analysis of the Cognitive and Motivational Effects of Serious Games by Wouters, Pieter & Nimwegen, C. & Oostendorp, H. & Spek, Erik. (2013): https://www.researchgate.net/publication/263936571_A_Meta-Analysis_of_the_Cognitive_and_Motivational_Effects_of_Serious_Games
14. Human Resource Development Quarterly Article (2024) from Shukla, Sanket and Ashwani “Factors affecting transfer of online training: A systematic literature review and proposed taxonomy”: https://doi.org/10.1002/hrdq.21518
15. Serious Games Podcast episode on the Counterplay Festival with Matthias Paulsen: https://seriousgames.podigee.io/46-counterplay
16. Johannisnacht Mainz — city festival running alongside the Serious Play Conference: https://www.mainzer-johannisnacht.de/en/
17. Gamescon by Koelnmesse GmbH: https://www.gamescom.global/en
18. Happy Working Podcast with Manuel Grassler ("Spielen ist eine Superpower") – in German language: https://podcasts.apple.com/de/podcast/happy-working/id1876027540?l=en-GB&i=1000767188052
19. Lernkino featuring compact keynote impulses from Dr. Philipp Busch and Julian Kea. Mainz, 17 June 2026: https://lernkino.com/tour/mainz-lernkino
20. Discount code for the Serious Play Conference Europe 2026 for Serious Games Podcast listeners: SERIOUSGAMESPODCAST20, https://eu.seriousplayconf.com/registration/
21. Music: "Blanks" by Podington Bear (CC BY-NC 3.0, soundofpicture.com). A big thank you for sharing this wonderful track.
22. For feedback or to share your own experiences, please reach out at hello@kiLearning.net or connect with Julian on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kilearning/