Connected Through Play: Refugee Gaming

Refugee gaming can be much more than entertainment. It can create opportunities for displaced people to connect with others, develop digital skills, improve well-being and access new pathways into the digital economy.

Connected Through Play explores how gaming can help address some of the barriers refugees face in accessing digital spaces and opportunities. The publication looks at the potential of refugee-led Gaming Hubs to provide safe and reliable access to digital infrastructure, while supporting learning, community-building, game development, esports and content creation.

It also shares learning from a Gaming Hub pilot with refugees from Ukraine and host communities in North Macedonia. Participant feedback showed positive results across well-being, social connection and learning, with 100% reporting a positive impact on mood, relaxation and happiness, 75% reporting increased social connections and new friendships, and 89% reporting improved skills.
Building on these insights, Connected Through Play sets out a vision for expanding gaming opportunities across displacement contexts and creating pathways for refugees as players, developers, content creators, esports participants and entrepreneurs.