This article describes a learning and teaching strategy based on complexity science and explores its impacts on a higher education game design course. The purpose of the strategy was to generate conditions fostering individual and collective learning in educational complex adaptive systems. The data demonstrate that collaboration was initially challenging for students, but collective learning emerged as the course developed, positively affecting individual and team performance. The participants felt highly motivated and enjoyed working on course activities. The students' perception of progress and expertise were always high, and the academic performance was on average very good.