Spanish video game aims to boost church wedding rates

"According to the most recent figures, less than 18% of all weddings in Spain in 2024 31,462 out of 175,364 took place in church. The numbers are dramatically down from 2007 when more than 55% of weddings happened in a Roman Catholic church. The dwindling numbers, coupled with high divorce rates, have led the church to launch a number of initiatives in recent years designed to safeguard and promote the sacrament of marriage."

"The retro game, whose slogan is El amor, la aventura mas epica (Love is the most epic adventure), features a young couple, Fran and Elena, going about their daily tasks and earning prizes as they learn about the importance of patience, generosity, modesty, integrity and empathy. The idea of the game is to provide players with real-life situations such as problems at work, a stag do at a resort, a relationship with an ex-girlfriend as they reflect on marriage."

"The idea was suggested by students at the Pontifical University of Salamanca and developed by a professional video game designer. Presenting it as a game enters into dialogue with the gamified society in which we live and, at the same time, makes it possible and easy to reflect on the profound and essential elements in the giving of human love that are necessary for marriage that satisfies the longing for happiness of the huma"

Church weddings in Spain fell sharply to under 18% in 2024, with 31,462 of 175,364 ceremonies held in church, down from over 55% in 2007. High divorce rates and dwindling religious weddings prompted the bishops to launch initiatives to safeguard and promote the sacrament of marriage. The bishops released a retro-style video game, Level Up! A Two-player Game, featuring Fran and Elena, teaching patience, generosity, modesty, integrity and empathy through daily tasks and rewards. The game presents realistic situations—work problems, a stag do, an ex-partner—to prompt reflection on marriage. The rollout is scheduled for Valentine's Day and targets couples open to stable commitment. Students at the Pontifical University of Salamanca suggested the idea and a professional designer developed it.

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