A novel UML-based methodology for modeling adventure-based educational games

•The difficulty of developing useful educational games is an undisputed fact.•A UML-based graphic notation to assist the design of educational games is proposed.•This language facilitates the co-design of the game in multidisciplinary teams.•Metamodels are used to define a common game design vocabulary.•A real educational game, titled Uranus, has been modeled following the proposal. In the last years, serious games have been successfully exploited in different areas. However, in spite of the powerful tool that this kind of video games has proved to be in the classroom, a few methodological efforts have been conducted in order to involve pedagogues or educators in the design loop of these games or, one step further, include students in the co-design process to promote learning through design as a context. With this objective, this paper presents a set of metamodels that could facilitate the conceptual design of this type of games. To this end, a complete graphical notation based on the UML standard (with adaptations) is defined for representing the components of this type of games; having in mind to improve the collaboration between the team of educators/students and the technical team during the design process. Finally, the design diagrams defined during the production of a specific serious game, titled Uranus, are illustrated, in order to show the feasibility of the proposal. In addition, a validation experience was conducted with educators and computer engineering students in order to test the value of the proposed graphic notation to design educational games.