Adventures in Voice Game Design
Challenge
Google and Penguin Random House wanted to bring the Who Was? children’s book series to life through a voice-first game. The challenge was to design an engaging, intuitive experience using voice interaction alone, while ensuring the game was fun, easy to use, and suitable for a shared, family setting.
Our thinking
We focused on simplifying gameplay and designing specifically for voice-first interaction. By reducing complexity and enabling continuous listening, we created a more natural experience where players could respond freely without rigid commands, making the game more engaging and accessible.
Execution
Matchbox designed and built a voice-first game for Google Assistant, optimised for Google Nest Hub. The game combines memory, trivia, and word puzzles, using historical figures as collectible “helper cards,” with conversation design tailored to support natural, continuous voice interaction.
Outcome
The result was a fun, communal voice experience that introduces players to historical figures in an engaging way. The game demonstrated the potential of voice-based gameplay and delivered a simple, intuitive interaction model that encourages learning through play. Our work was highlighted in this <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ztoNhbSCWpM&feature=youtu.be">Google video</a> about Diversity, Equity and Inclusion.