CULTURAL ENCODING THROUGH GAME MECHANICS: STRATEGY AND SYMBOLISM IN INDIAN BOARD GAMES

Yogindra Vaidya; Hemant Kaushik

doi:10.29121/shodhkosh.v7.i5s.2026.7520

Authors

Yogindra Vaidya PhD Scholar, School of Design, Avantika University, Ujjain, India
Dr. Hemant Kaushik Professor, School of Design, Avantika University, Ujjain, India

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.29121/shodhkosh.v7.i5s.2026.7520

Keywords:

Game Design, Gamification, Game Mechanics, Strategy Thinking, Symbolism

Abstract [English]

This research examines how game mechanics in traditional Indian board games encode cultural values, strategies, and symbolism, fostering identity and social learning among young adults aged 18-22. Drawing from classics like Pachisi, Snakes and Ladders (Moksha Patamu), and Chaupar, the study explores mechanics such as dice-driven movement (representing karma and chance), ladder ascents (symbolizing dharma and opportunity), and snake descents (embodying moral pitfalls). These elements strategically balance luck and skill, embedding Hindu-Buddhist philosophies of reincarnation, ethical decision-making, and communal harmony. A mixed-methods approach combines qualitative case studies with targeted data collection across four sites: Gurgaon (urban design hubs), Kashipur and Uttarakhand (rural cultural preserves), and MIT College, Pune (academic game design programs). Primary data includes 120 semi-structured interviews and playtesting sessions with 18–22-year-old students (n=80 per site), surveys on mechanic interpretations (n=200), and ethnographic observations of gameplay adaptations. Secondary sources encompass historical texts and modern redesigns. Findings reveal that 78% of participants recognized symbolic mechanics as direct cultural metaphors, enhancing engagement and retention of values like patience and strategy. Urban youth (Gurgaon, Delhi-NCR) favoured hybridized mechanics for digital ports, while rural groups (Kashipur, Uttarakhand) emphasized communal rituals, with 65% linking snakes/ladders to personal ethics. Mechanics proved effective for ages 18-22, boosting critical thinking by 42% in post-play assessments, though modernization risks diluting symbolism.

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