Kitchen KungFu: A match-3 game to explore Chinese medical beliefs

Abstract

Chinese people have their own set of medical beliefs. However, it could cause misunderstanding during cross-cultural communication, especially under clinical settings. In this case study, we designed an educational game Kitchen KungFu, which incorporates knowledge of Chinese medical beliefs into the rules of match-3 games like Candy Crush Saga. Specifically, the game presents yin-yang theory and the cold-hot foods culture. Ten international participants were recruited to play the game and give feedback. Quantitative and qualitative analyses showed that this educational game increased participants’ agreement with and knowledge of Chinese medical beliefs. As an exploration of employing gamification to promote cross-cultural understanding, Kitchen KungFu’s design and evaluation process could provide valuable reference for future studies.