Digital Game-Based Language Learning in Language Teacher Education: Exploring the Discovery Tour Ancient Egypt

Abstract

The integration of digital games in education offers engagement, contextualized learning, and multimodal interaction. In language teacher education, digital game-based language learning (DGBLL) exposes preservice teachers to innovative environments and equips them with pedagogical strategies. This chapter examines commercial and serious games, focusing on Ubisoft’s Discovery Tour: Ancient Egypt (DTAE), which provides historically grounded, immersive simulations. After reviewing literature on gamification, playful learning, and DGBLL within constructivist and situated frameworks, the chapter presents a case implemented with 80 preservice teachers in Türkiye. Participants designed lesson plans integrating historical content with English objectives using DTAE and H5P activities. The chapter illustrates that games foster creativity, motivation, and cultural engagement among preservice teachers. Furthermore, digital games, paired with structured support, enhance teacher education and more suggestions are made for future research with emerging technologies. Copyright © 2026, IGI Global Scientific Publishing. Copying or distributing in print or electronic forms without written permission of IGI Global Scientific Publishing is prohibited. Use of this chapter to train generative artificial intelligence (AI) technologies is expressly prohibited. The publisher reserves all rights to license its use for generative AI training and machine learning model development.