Serious Games in Digital Gaming: A Comprehensive Review of Applications, Game Engines and Advancements

Abstract: Serious games are defined as applied games that focus on the gamification of an experience (e.g., learning and training activities) and are not strictly for entertainment purposes. In recent years, serious games have become increasingly popular due to their ability to simultaneously educate and entertain users. In this review, we provide a comprehensive overview of the different types of digital games and expand on the serious games genre while focusing on its various applications. Furthermore, we present the most widely used game engines used in the game development industry and extend the Unity game machine advantages. Lastly, we conclude our research with a detailed comparison of the two most popular choices (Unreal and Unity engines) and their respective advantages and disadvantages while providing future suggestions for serious digital game development.