<p>The emerging field of Human-Robot Interaction (HRI) is increasingly embracing the domain of game design to leverage engaging and playful scenarios to study human behaviour while involving socially interactive robots. While the pace of development is increasing, it is still difficult to systematically capture and convey design information, including the key elements to consider from both robotics and gameplay points of view. This paper introduces the Human-Robot Interaction Game Canvas (HRIGC), a novel tool designed to facilitate the creation and communication of game-based HRI scenarios. The HRIGC is intended to be a generalised, fillable, and flexible framework that incorporates critical elements pertinent to both HRI and game design. The primary goal of the HRIGC is to aid in the conceptualisation of HRI game designs by providing a shared language and structure that can support communication and comparison across various projects. To assess the utility and impact of the HRIGC, we conducted a pilot study engaging experts in the fields of HRI and game design. Online questionnaires were used to gather feedback from experienced researchers to evaluate the HRIGC’s effectiveness and identify opportunities for refinement. Results from this study demonstrate HRIGC’s potential to support the design process and offer a more systematic approach to exploring the complex interplay between game design and social robotics. The HRIGC proved to be a promising tool that can help simplify the design process, enable designers to delve more deeply into the particulars, and support cross-communication in this interdisciplinary field.</p>