Quantum Games: A New Frontier in Research and Education

In 2025, physicist Evert van Nieuwenburg received a Vidi grant from the Dutch Research Council (NWO) to support his research at Leiden University. The research combines quantum physics, artificial intelligence, and game theory.

Van Nieuwenburg's work explores the use of quantum games as educational tools and as a method for developing software for quantum computers.

Grant and Research Focus

The Vidi grant, awarded in 2025, funds Van Nieuwenburg's investigation into quantum games. His research focuses on translating the rules of quantum mechanics into structured game environments.

According to Van Nieuwenburg, this approach provides clear goals, rules, and feedback, which can help build intuition for understanding quantum concepts such as superposition.

Specific Projects and Developments

The research includes several specific projects and public-facing initiatives:

• Quantum TiqTaqToe: This is a quantum version of tic-tac-toe where a player's move can exist in multiple states simultaneously, illustrating the principle of superposition. Van Nieuwenburg stated the game will be released in over fifty languages. A story-based version of the game is also being developed for children.
• National Tournament: An annual national TiqTaqToe tournament is held. Preliminary rounds for the current cycle began on the date of the grant announcement reports. The tournament final is scheduled for May 20, 2026, and will be held during an event called Quantum Meets.
• Erratiq: Developed in collaboration with Waag Futurelab and postdoctoral researcher Jan Krzywda, Erratiq is a citizen science game focused on quantum error correction. The game is scheduled to launch on April 14. Player moves within the game are designed to be used to train an underlying artificial intelligence model.

Research Applications and Context

Van Nieuwenburg's research explores applications beyond education. He stated that the structure and intuition developed through games could aid in the creation of quantum algorithms, which are the software programs needed to operate quantum computers effectively.

A specific area of investigation is whether games can be used to train AI for quantum error correction, a technical challenge crucial for building functional quantum computers.

Quantum computers are noted in the reports for their potential future applications in areas such as drug development and climate modeling.

A current challenge in the field is the development of effective quantum algorithms, as the number of possible algorithms is described as vast, with useful ones being rare.

Quantum games have been used for several years as a method to explain quantum physics concepts to a broad audience. Van Nieuwenburg described the games as a potential bridge between theoretical concepts and practical applications in quantum technology.