GreenChef takes shape: internal playtesting
Creating an educational board game is much more than designing beautiful cards or writing engaging rules. Every successful game goes through a careful process of testing, observation, and continuous improvement. At Dracon Rules Design Studio, this philosophy is at the heart of everything we create.
As part of the Erasmus+ GreenChef – Gamifying Sustainable Cooking and Environmental Education project, our playtesting team recently gathered for an internal testing session to evaluate the latest version of the GreenChef board game before its wider implementation.
Playtesting for Better Learning
The objective of the session was to ensure that GreenChef offers a smooth, engaging, and educational experience for its future users—primarily VET students, trainers, and educators in the culinary and hospitality sector.
Throughout the session, our team carefully examined every aspect of the game, including the flow of gameplay, card interactions, rule clarity, game balance, and the overall player experience. Beyond the mechanics, we also focused on how effectively the game communicates its educational objectives, encouraging discussions about plant-based ingredients, sustainable cooking practices, and the environmental impact of food choices.
Every Feedback Matters
One of the strengths of educational game design is its iterative nature. Every observation, suggestion, and discussion generated during the playtesting session was documented and shared with the development team.
These insights help us refine both the gameplay and the supporting educational materials, ensuring that GreenChef is not only enjoyable to play but also meaningful as a learning resource. By continuously testing and improving the game, we can better support educators who will use it in classrooms, workshops, and training activities across Europe.
Games Designed for Education
At Dracon Rules Design Studio, we see board games as powerful educational tools capable of transforming complex topics into engaging learning experiences. GreenChef reflects this vision by combining strategic gameplay with sustainability education, allowing players to learn through interaction, collaboration, and experimentation.
The game encourages participants to discover new ingredients, complete recipes, and reflect on the environmental impact of their culinary choices, while developing transversal skills such as communication, teamwork, and decision-making.
An Erasmus+ Collaboration
GreenChef is developed within the Erasmus+ project "GreenChef – Gamifying Sustainable Cooking and Environmental Education", a collaboration between:
🇭🇺 Climate Smart Elephant (Hungary) – Project Coordinator
🇧🇬 HRC Culinary Academy (Bulgaria)
🇬🇷 Dracon Rules Design Studio (Greece)
Together, the partnership is creating innovative educational resources that make sustainability more accessible, practical, and engaging for learners and educators alike.
The internal playtesting session marked another important milestone in the project's journey. With every test, GreenChef becomes a stronger educational tool—ready to inspire future chefs to make more sustainable food choices through the power of play.
Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Education and Tempus Public Foundation (TPF). Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.
