Games can useful to us in the same way to the art and entertainment in general.

Gordon writes (in The Philosophy of the Arts) "This brings us to another important explanation – that the value of art is neither hedonic, aesthetic nor emotive, but cognitive, that is to say,valuable as a source of knowledge and understanding."

It might be that games have way to go here, but pieces such as September 12th , This War of Mine, and Papers Please are looking hard topics (terrorism, war, immigration & borders) and makes statements on those using game features.

Borrowing from Jancheski:

...According many scientific investigations computer games had significant educational value and could be extremely useful if they become part of the school curriculum. There are various computer games that create context in which students can develop important skills. The use of computer games in educational contexts encourages active, critical, autonomous and participated learning processes, engaging students in active forms of acquiring knowledge and skills. The main purpose of computer games in not only entertainment; they can combine the playful factor with pedagogical advantages, promoting changes in terms of cognitive, behavioral and psychomotor skills in its users...

All: If you like to play strategies and/or educational games, here is my newest challenge:

https://www.researchgate.net/post/Can_you_beat_The_Master

Good luck, and have fun!!!

The role of computer games should be providing a virtual life mimicing some experience in reality. However, computer games are still on a very primitive stage. The key problem is that the NPCs are actually walking dead without personality. Thus, computer games on the current stage cannot give you any real interaction and real emotion. A revolution is needed on this!

Saeed Mojtabazadeh, computer games are being used to discuss human rights and other issues encompassed by the United Nations. Look at http://www.gamesforchange.org/ and you will find serious applications of games towards social dilemmas of our time.