Google Slides is an incredibly versatile tool. While most people use it to create presentations, you can also use it to make interactive games. Games are a great way to engage audiences, promote learning and collaboration, and make meetings more fun.
In this guide, I’ll walk you through the step-by-step process for making your own game in Google Slides.
Why Make a Game in Google Slides?
Here are some of the key benefits of creating games with Google Slides:
- Engagement – Games encourage participation and interaction. They are more dynamic and engaging than static presentations.
- Collaboration – Multiplayer Google Slide games facilitate teamwork and social bonding. They are great icebreakers.
- Learning – Games allow you to teach concepts, test knowledge, and develop skills in a risk-free environment.
- Fun – Most importantly, games are fun! They help lighten the mood and provide a playful break.
Step 1: Choose a Game Format
Google Slides supports various game formats, including:
- Quizzes
- Board games
- Puzzles
- Interactive stories
- Memory games
Decide what format best fits your purpose. A trivia quiz may work well for reviewing content, while an interactive story facilitates creativity.
If unsure, browse game templates to get inspiration.
Step 2: Set Up the Basic Structure
Once you’ve decided on a format, set up the foundation:
Quizzes
- Create a title slide
- Make slides for each question
- Include multiple choice options
- Link right answers to the next question
Board Games
- Make a slide for the board
- Add playable spaces
- Create slides for game pieces, dice, cards etc.
Interactive Stories
- Make a title slide
- Add slides to progress the story
- Insert decision points with branching options
Play around with slide transitions and animations too. These enhance interactivity.
Step 3: Enhance with Interactive Elements
Leverage Google Slides’ full suite of features to make your game interactive:
Insert Media
- Images – Use custom photos or illustrations
- Audio – Add sound effects or background music
- Video – Embed video for cutscenes
Utilize Links
- Link decision options to different outcomes
- Connect correct quiz answers to the next questions
- Let clicking game pieces trigger animations
Add Supplements
- Shapes and Icons – Design game boards, pieces and UI elements
- Comments – Enable discussions about gameplay
- Add-ons – Extend functionality (e.g. with dice)
Getting creative with multimedia and interactivity takes your game to the next level.
Step 4: Refine the Content
Polish your game content for the best user experience:
- Fix bugs – Test gameplay flows and links
- Enhance instructions – Explain how to play
- Refine questions/story – Ensure content quality
- Improve visuals – Use color schemes, illustrations and icons
Iteratively playtesting and gathering feedback is key before rolling your game out more broadly.
Step 5: Share and Collaborate
Once complete, share your Google Slides game:
- Present in-person for interactive sessions
- Share link for remote multiplayer access
- Embed on websites to reach wider audiences
- Export as presentation files or PDFs
Enable comments for discussion. Track analytics to see what resonates.
The beauty of cloud-based tools like Google Slides is that they facilitate real-time collaboration. Leverage this to create truly engaging games!
Next Steps
With this foundation, you can now make interactive Google Slide games tailored to your needs.
Some ideas to take your skills further:
- Create educational review games for classrooms
- Design icebreakers for corporate training
- Gamify meeting warmups for more fun
- Build a library of games for events
- Monetize by selling games on marketplaces
The possibilities are endless when you unleash your creativity. Have fun developing unique games on Google Slides!
