All JapanLab games are made by undergraduate student teams who collaborate with a faculty advisor.

The faculty advisor develops the starting concept for the game idea and provides academic advice and guidance. Students work together to determine the creative vision, game mechanics, and narrative for each game.

This collaboration-centered model works, as is demonstrated by the accomplishments of our student teams. Since the JapanLab project began in 2022, student teams have developed 8 finished, classroom-ready games on Japanese history, literature and language—with more to come!