In a world increasingly dominated by digital entertainment, one organization is boldly stepping into the video game space with a Gospel vision.
Intelligent Media & Design (IMD) is a nonprofit ministry creating high-quality, biblically grounded video games designed to engage young people with Scripture. IMD develops and publishes immersive, gospel-centered games that are offered completely free of charge, with the goal of discipling the next generation and supporting the local church in outreach and biblical literacy.
The inspiration for IMD struck Drayton Cosby nearly a decade ago. Through prayer, the Lord put on his heart to reach the next generation right where they are. This place, he realized, was the video game space—an area that desperately needs biblical content.
Cosby closely observed the rapid advancements in devices and technology from 2005 to 2015, particularly the emergence of Apple products. He noted how his own children, now 19, 16, and 12, were engaging with video games. A pivotal moment came after weeks of prayer when he saw a vision of his daughter playing a biblical game that featured an angel walking through different stories in the Bible.
Cosby initially wrestled with the idea, but it stuck with him.
“I couldn’t get it off my heart and off my mind,” he said. He even prayed for God to take it away if it wasn’t His will. Instead, after 21 days of prayer at his church, he felt even more excited and passionate about the idea.
His resolve was further cemented by observing societal problems—from high suicide rates to declining church attendance and biblical literacy among youth—all while the gaming industry continued to boom.
While many people agreed his idea for biblical games was interesting, they also thought it was not doable. Cosby remained faithful. He officially opened IMD’s doors in October 2018.
As CEO and founder, Cosby wears multiple hats. Although he didn’t have a background in game development when he started IMD, his expertise spans business, marketing, fundraising, communications, finance, and software operations development.
He leads a diverse team of developers, business leaders, pastors, and education professionals. IMD not only develops games but also acts as a publisher, with a vision to release more biblical games each year.
“We also want to usher in a generation of game developers that want to create biblical games and give them a platform to be able to publish those games,” Cosby said.
Steam, the PC gaming platform where IMD houses their games, has more than 50,000 games on its system. Yet, the high-quality, biblical games available on that global platform were minimal.
“Pretty much every game that you play doesn’t have a whole lot of purpose to it,” Cosby said. “The vision really is to redeem that space and create more visible biblical games that people can access.”
Cosby elaborated on the vision: “We want to make sure that God is ever present and on people’s minds.”
Cosby emphasizes the importance of content for kids:
“We definitely absorb what we see and hear. … If we’re collecting and absorbing things that are going to change our heart, and we’re not equipped to really discern that, then it’s almost like leading a lamb to the slaughter.” IMD’s solution is to offer “rich, biblical truth that really is counteracting everything that they’re hearing from everywhere else.”
Their flagship brand, The Anointed, features games about God’s chosen, biblical leaders that were set apart for a divine purpose. This initiative seeks not only to educate young people about biblical heroes but also to point them to the Gospel:
“When they accept Christ into their heart, they also have the same anointing power and spirit that those kings and priests had,” Cosby said.
Cosby described The Anointed brand as “a lifestyle,” with the Bible as the primary source for the narrative. Their current and upcoming product lineup includes:
- Heart of David: This high-quality, story-rich game for ages 13 and up follows 1 Samuel 16 to 2 Samuel 2. The full title is slated for next year, with early access planned for those who wish-list it.
- Mobile game: Currently in development, this game is designed primarily for younger families, targeting ages 5 to 12.
- Multiplayer prototype: Players can customize their own characters, becoming one of David’s men, and engage in survival elements like hunting, fishing, crafting, building strongholds, and going on missions within Judean environments. This multiplayer experience is designed to build off the story mode.
IMD intends to release their products over the next few years. They also plan a merchandise line to support the ministry.
A core part of IMD’s strategy involves equipping and partnering with the church to disciple through video games. Currently, they are working with about 30 churches to provide tools that go beyond entertainment as resources parents and churches can trust.
Cosby notes that many churches already use secular games to connect with kids due to a lack of high-quality biblical options. IMD seeks to fill this gap, offering a tool that can help churches reach their students and meet them where they are.
IMD also envisions young people using these games as an outreach tool. These games can help kids invite friends who may feel alienated from church but would be open to gaming alongside believers. Ultimately, Cosby hopes to help churches facilitate faith discussions.
Cosby sees the gaming space as a “new landscape for the Gospel.” He hopes gaming helps build a bridge to bring people into community rather than away from it.
“We want to try to use this to get people back to church,” he states.
IMD has already witnessed significant success and profound spiritual impact.
A two-hour demo of their Heart of David game, released in late 2022, has seen over 46,000 installs, all with a minimal advertising budget. The game has been played in over 130 countries, including 28 where the Bible is banned. Initially only in English, the game now has a Spanish translation, with more to come, reaching heavy Steam users in places like China and Russia.
Cosby recounted a story of a youth pastor who created a sensory room in his church for people with special needs. He introduced the Heart of David game to an autistic, non-communicative son from a family attending his church. After playing the game for a couple of hours, the young man made direct eye contact with the pastor and recounted everything he learned about David. He started asking questions about God and eventually chose to follow Christ.
“We want the church to lead,” Cosby said. “They can use this [game] to meet people where others can’t go.”
Cosby has a deep heart for people that have learning disabilities, noting how multi-sensory learning through games can help them absorb biblical stories more easily through text, music, and interactive play.
Looking to the future, IMD is poised for significant growth. Their immediate goal is to raise $15 million over the next three years to complete the current game, develop other products, and fund promotion and distribution. Cosby emphasizes that all support, whether through merchandise or donations, will go directly to ensuring anyone can access the games for free.
To achieve their vision, IMD plans to expand its development team, recruiting specialists in areas like animation, sound, art, and communications. They aim to create titles that stand toe-to-toe with major industry games as well as to raise the bar against the belief that Christian entertainment lacks excellence in design and execution.
“As parents, we have to guard hearts, and we have to be present,” Cosby said. “And I know that can be hard sometimes. … No matter what tool [kids are] using, we have to make sure that it’s biblically sound. So, my hope is that they would see the game that we’re building, not look at it like a video, but look at it like an immersive, extravagant, awesome opportunity to be able to share the word of God.”
Cosby encourages parents to step into their kids’ world—not to imitate it or affirm everything in it, but to faithfully speak truth from God’s word within it.
IMD’s dedication to meeting the next generation where they are with biblically sound and high-quality content marks them as a pioneering force in Christian media. As Cosby says, God is working mightily in this space, and IMD is just at “the tip of the iceberg.”
To learn more about Intelligent Media and Design, support their mission, or access their demo, visit: imdinteractive.org.
IMD has been an NRB member since 2025.
