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The Games Europe Plays was conceived and developed by Ghislaine Boddington to give visibility to the booming and vivid European gaming scene within the UK and to envision future scenarios in which gaming experiences are at the centre of work and play.

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In 2016 The Games Europe Plays brought to Londoners a selection of independent and innovative games made in Europe to experience and play. Coordinated by the Finnish Institute, and supported by EUNIC London, Ghislaine Boddington was invited to curate The Games Europe Plays as a series of three exhibitions, events and talks inviting developers, makers and academics from the UK and Europe to meet and debate.

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An interactive and playful exhibition, The Games Europe Plays at the Finnish Institute in April 2016, showcased the most exciting independent digital games for young people (4+) and families as part of the London Games Festival. It presented games by Gigglebug (FI), Toca Boca (SE), Tine Bech (DK/UK), Peter Lu & Lea Schönfelder (DE) and Amanita (CZ).

Exploring our body from its hidden micro bacteria to its digital incarnations The Games Europe Plays presented the second exhibition in the series of three – BODY<>TECH - at the University of Greenwich in July / August 2016 and took a playful look at how digital technologies are helping us to heal but can also disturb our wellbeing. Presenting the works of interactive artists and game makers from the UK and continental Europe, the show envisioned how we will inhabit and take care of our virtual and physical bodies in the future. Ghislaine presented the works of Anna Dumitriu with Alex May (UK), Ivor Diosi (CZ), Marco Donnarumma (IT), Blast Theory (UK), Designswarm (UK) and Grendel Games (NL). A day-long Symposium was held at the university as part of the exhibition for students, staff and public.

The last stop of the series was at Nesta’s FutureFest in September 2016, where The Games Europe Plays presented ‘Molding the Signifier’ an installation by Ivor Diosi (CZ), speaker input into mainstage panel by Marco Donnaruma (IT) and supported the performances into the FutureFest 2016 digital commission, Collective Reality (UK).

The Games Europe Plays showcased the best of EU gaming from full-bodied gaming interactive installations as well as screen-based games and apps. The three exhibitions presented an immersive, playful journey through some of the most innovative gaming experiences from Europe in 2016, offering the audience the opportunity to envision how gaming is used today and can be used in the future.

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