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Game On: A Developmental Approach to UNSW Cyber Escape Room for Cybersecurity Governance and Policy Education

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Preprints.org
DOI
10.20944/preprints202512.2539.v1

Serious games are increasingly recognized as powerful pedagogical tools, often offering engaging, interactive, and practical learning experiences. This paper presents the design, implementation, and evaluation of a 3D virtual serious game specifically tailored for cybersecurity governance and policy education. In particular, the nature of the game is an escape room, drawing on military training principles: players must solve a problem to escape one room before advancing to the next. Set within a virtual company environment, the game features three interactive zones that guide students through analyzing cyber risks, aligning security frameworks, and drafting appropriate policies. This structure cultivates critical thinking and decision-making skills and strengthens practical cybersecurity competencies. The primary contribution lies in the innovative integration of game-based learning and 3D virtual technology to create robust, hands-on educational materials. The design also includes AI-resilient assessment features to address challenges related to generative AI misuse, ensuring that the activities cannot be easily replicated and thereby supporting academic integrity. Survey results demonstrate that students found this approach both engaging and effective, reporting enhanced understanding and enthusiasm toward cybersecurity governance and policy concepts. These findings highlight the potential of gamified environments to bridge theory and practice in cybersecurity education, equipping learners with industry-relevant skills while fostering deeper engagement and active learning.

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