Introduction

The NWO-FWO funded project Play your way into math started in 2011. The focus of the project is to investigate the effects of game characteristics on students' motivation, learning processes, and acquired skills. In three research projects sharing common elements (the game-based learning environment, tests, and process measures) specific variations in game characteristics such as self explanations, integration of learning content and surprise/curiosity are investigated. The research is conducted by the universities of Twente, Utrecht and Leuven.