Danish Media Outlet Creates Science-Based Games For Readers

Videnskab.dk, a Danish science-focused media outlet, started creating jigsaws and Wordle-style puzzles for their audience last year, and have seen enthusiasm from their readers. We interviewed Jon Mathorne, Journalist at Videnskab.dk, regarding the integration of gaming into science journalism.

Jon, to get us started, could you tell me a bit about your publication? I’ll admit, I’m struggling with the pronunciation!

Jon: Our language is a bit like looking at code! It’s Videnskab.dk. In English, that translates to “Science.dk.” We are a public service media founded about 18 years ago. The goal was to bridge the gap between citizens and the actual science being done in Denmark. Since we are a digital-only media, we spend a lot of energy making people aware we exist.

You’ve recently integrated games to your publication. What was the thought process behind that?

Jon: We are in hard competition for people’s attention. People are getting tired of constant negative news. One of my passions for science journalism is that it offers a point of view from people trying to solve humanity’s problems. To get people to read those stories, you have to gain their attention first. Gaming is a vital part of that. Whether it’s a Wordle-style game or a jigsaw puzzle, people have a natural instinct to solve things. When they solve it and see a link to the story behind it, it gets the ball rolling.

How long have you been running these games, and why did you choose specific formats like Jigsaws and WordroW?

Jon: We’ve had quizzes for a while, but we wanted a more planned publishing schedule with added games. We started working with your platform around late summer 2025, launching our first puzzles in July or August, followed by our Wordle-style game in October.

We chose these because we hope they are popular with our younger audience, our main target group, like high school students, and they are easy for our editorial team to run. The interface is simple: find the words or a “brainy” image, plug them in, and you’re good to go.

You’re the one actually creating these puzzles. What does your workflow look like?

Jon: I usually work in big batches. Even though the interface is easy, there’s a lot of “cleaning” and detail work, like remembering specific hex codes for background colors to keep the series consistent. I’ll often sit for 10 or 12 hours straight and create enough puzzles to cover the next five or six months.

I’m curious about the content itself. How do you decide on the words for the Wordle game or the images for the jigsaws?

Jon: For the words, I found a list of all Danish five-letter words and manually filtered them for anything related to science—like “quartz,” “space,” or “electron.”

For the jigsaws, I do a very low-tech search of our own archives for “brainy” or interesting images. Interestingly, I’ve found that the image doesn’t have to be “Photography of the Year.” If the article context is interesting, people will solve the puzzle regardless of whether it’s a high-art photo or just a pile of candles on a table.

What has the reception been like from your readers so far?

Jon: Based on the emails we get, people are pretty excited! Usually, when something lands in my inbox, it’s a positive complaint, like someone not knowing a specific word, or asking how to see the solution. People have become habituated to it; they sit there waiting for the next one to pop up.

People have become habituated to it; they sit there waiting for the next one to pop up.

Do you have plans to add more formats in the future?

Jon: We are still in our first year, so we are analyzing the data – clicks, game loads, and engagement. We’re definitely looking at other varieties. I’ve actually been looking at the Danish wording in other games to see how we can help improve the experience for the Danish market.