New Open Format Makes Educational Games Easy to Create

Building an educational video game used to require months of programming work, but a new open format is changing that for teachers and creators everywhere.

The Educational Game Format (EGF), released in November 2025, lets anyone create simple educational games without writing a single line of code. The free tool packages everything needed for a game into one reusable container that works on phones, tablets, and computers.

The format came from real classroom needs. When ZakiGames launched in 2017 to promote education across Africa, its founder noticed something important: hardly any educational games existed in African languages or reflected local cultures. Creating custom games from scratch took too long to scale.

The breakthrough came in 2024 while volunteering with AFaLaC, a French organization focused on language diversity. The same structural patterns worked across different types of educational content, leading to a simple question: why not create one format that anyone could reuse?

EGF works like the EPUB format used for digital books, but for interactive learning experiences. Creators organize content, quizzes, feedback, and images in a consistent way that any EGF reader app can display. Make one game, and it runs everywhere without modifications.

One early example teaches the N'Ko writing system used in West Africa. Another helps students learn the French alphabet with feedback in Hausa, making lessons accessible to local learners who might struggle with French-only instruction.

The Ripple Effect spreads beyond Africa. By removing technical barriers, EGF opens educational game creation to teachers, small nonprofits, and cultural organizations worldwide. A Spanish teacher in Mexico could create a game about local history. A language preservation group could build interactive lessons for endangered tongues. Each game becomes a shareable resource that works on any device.

The ecosystem is just beginning. Prototype editors and readers already exist, with an official website hosting resources and published games. The project welcomes developers to build new tools and educators to create content in any subject or language.

This standardized approach could finally match the diversity of human learning with the diversity of digital tools available to teach it.