Abstract The importance of sustainable education is increasingly being seen over the last decade. One way is by offering social entrepreneurship education (SEE): education that addresses engagement (empathy, compassion and care) and entrepreneurship. In a Dutch institute for primary teacher education, a pilot study was undertaken on SEE. Student teachers were instructed to design games that stimulate social entrepreneurship of children aged 8–12, and especially aim at enhancing empathy. Game designing appears to offer good opportunities for the enhancement of empathy. This study reveals what the students enrolled in the pilot (n=8) perceived to have learned about SEE, and in particular about the enhancement of empathy. The students saw a relationship between empathy, sustainability issues and SEE. They had the impression certain game conditions, competences and teacher characteristics stimulated SEE and empathy. Game designing offered good opportunities to enhance empathy and helped the students to increase their understanding of SEE.