Play is a fundamental right of childhood and a critical driver of cognitive, social and emotional development. Yet, in increasingly digitized environments, the qualities that make play open-ended, imaginative and child-led are often constrained by platform architectures, monetization models and regulatory gaps. This research investigates how digital game environments for children are shaped, where their potential to support healthy development is nurtured or diminished and how they might be redesigned to better align with the principles of meaningful play. Adopting a systems-oriented design methodology, the study integrates a literature review of classical and contemporary play theories with systemic mapping tools, actor maps, iceberg models and causal loop diagrams to reveal the structural forces influencing children’s digital play. A participatory workshop with adult participants, drawing on memory work and speculative design, was conducted to explore cultural narratives, tensions, and aspirations surrounding digital play. The findings highlight recurring patterns of diminished agency, commercial overreach and fragmented governance, alongside opportunities for creativity, care and shared meaning-making. By synthesizing these insights, the project proposes design principles and policy considerations aimed at reframing digital play environments as spaces that protect children’s rights, foster autonomy and sustain the imaginative richness essential to childhood.