In this paper we present an educational digital game, Function Dungeon, that we developed for learning about functions in a playful way. Results from a pilot conducted with fourteen 13-year-old students in a school in the Netherlands show that the game can foster ‘joyful practice’. That is, students experience fun and sense of control while practicing mathematics. Findings from this study contribute to the development of knowledge about digital educational games and its potential to transform traditional practices in education.