Bridging Generations Through Play: Design and Development of An Augmented Reality Storytelling Card Game Centered on Cultural Identity

Abstract

In nowadays' increasingly digitized and fragmented social landscape, we can be instantly connected to virtually anywhere in the world and still feel disconnected from our own local communities. Locked in bubbles created by algorithms or by the demands of daily life, opportunities for meaningful intergenerational connection may become rarer. These exchanges, however, are vital for transmitting cultural knowledge, fostering empathy, and sustaining a sense of shared identity. Developed within the context of project NOOA, this work explores how a storytelling card game, enhanced with augmented reality (AR), can serve as a tool for fostering intergenerational engagement and co-creating culturally grounded narratives. With a Design-Based Research (DBR) approach, a functional storytelling game prototype was iteratively developed and evaluated in two sessions, involving six participants aged from 26 to 83. Each session consisted of two moments, beginning with a playtest, during which observational data was collected. Following, reflection and feedback regarding participants' experience with the game was collected through semi-structured group interviews. Qualitative data was analyzed through reflexive thematic analysis. Findings indicate that the game supported intergenerational engagement, stimulated cultural reflection, and allowed participants to connect personal and collective histories in playful ways. While the novelty of the technology introduced both interest and minor learning curves, it also offered new possibilities for creating, preserving and sharing the created stories. This research demonstrates how AR tools can promote narrative co-creation across generations, contributing to the fields of interaction design and digital storytelling by highlighting the importance of low-barrier technologies that prioritize relationship-building and cultural continuity. Future work should explore long-term impact and scalability across diverse community contexts.