Gamification elements and their impacts on education: A review

Mao Jun; Terry  Lucas

doi:10.31893/multirev.2025155

Keywords:

learning achievement

student engagement

motivation

Abstract

Gamification, the integration of game design elements in non-gaming contexts, has emerged as a popular strategy across various disciplines, particularly in education. This meta-analysis evaluates the impact of gamification on student engagement, motivation, and academic performance from 2021 to 2024. A systematic review was conducted following PRISMA principles, analysing studies sourced from major academic databases, including ScienceDirect, Google Scholar, and Scopus. Peer-reviewed publications focusing on gamification elements such as badges, leaderboards, and points were prioritized. Findings indicate that gamification significantly enhances student motivation, active participation, and academic success. Specific features like badges and leaderboards foster competitiveness and recognition, which are essential for promoting self-regulation and active learning. Points systems, on the other hand, provide immediate feedback and measurable goals, enabling learners to track progress effectively. Collectively, these elements create dynamic, interactive, and enjoyable learning environments that facilitate deeper engagement and comprehension. This review also highlights the diversity of gamified approaches tailored to educational settings, demonstrating their adaptability to various subjects and age groups. The implementation of gamification has been shown to bridge gaps in traditional pedagogical methods by introducing novel ways of capturing student interest and sustaining long-term involvement. However, the effectiveness of gamification is contingent on careful design and alignment with instructional objectives. Overall, the findings underscore the transformative potential of gamification in education. By integrating game mechanics into learning processes, educators can cultivate intrinsically motivated learners and foster improved academic outcomes. The study concludes with recommendations for future research to explore the longitudinal effects of gamification and its applicability across diverse educational contexts.
References
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8. Hellín, C. J., Calles-Esteban, F., Valledor, A., Gómez, J., Otón-Tortosa, S., & Tayebi, A. (2023). Enhancing student motivation and engagement through a gamified learning environment. Sustainability, 15(19), 14119. https://doi.org/10.3390/su151914119
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13. Krath, J., Schürmann, L., & Von Korflesch, H. F. O. (2021). Revealing the theoretical basis of gamification: A systematic review and analysis of theory in research on gamification, serious games and game-based learning. Computers in Human Behavior, 125, 106963. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chb.2021.106963
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16. Minh, D. T., Oanh, L. V. L., & Quỳnh, N. T. (2023). How gamification affects online shopping behavior: An approach with youngsters (aged 16–30). Cogent Business & Management, 10(3). https://doi.org/10.1080/23311975.2023.2256076
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20. Rahayu, F. S., Nugroho, L. E., Ferdiana, R., & Setyohadi, D. B. (2022). Motivation and engagement of final-year students when using e-learning: A qualitative study of gamification in pandemic situation. Sustainability, 14(14), 8906. https://doi.org/10.3390/su14148906
21. Raju, R., Bhat, S., D’Souza, R., & Singh, A. B. (2021). Effective usage of gamification techniques to boost student engagement. Journal of Engineering Education Transformation, 34(0), 713. https://doi.org/10.16920/jeet/2021/v34i0/157171
22. Rodrigues, L. F., Oliveira, A., & Rodrigues, H. (2019). Main gamification concepts: A systematic mapping study. Heliyon, 5(7), e01993. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2019.e01993
23. Sanchez, D. R., Langer, M., & Kaur, R. (2020). Gamification in the classroom: Examining the impact of gamified quizzes on student learning. Computers & Education, 144, 103666. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.compedu.2019.103666
24. Sharma, W. K., Lim, W. M., Kumar, S., Verma, A., & Kumra, R. (2024). Game on! A state-of-the-art overview of doing business with gamification. Technological Forecasting and Social Change, 198, 122988. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.techfore.2023.122988
25. Smiderle, R., Rigo, S. J., Marques, L. B., De Miranda Coelho, J. P., & Jaques, P. A. (2020). The impact of gamification on students’ learning, engagement, and behavior based on their personality traits. Smart Learning Environments, 7(1). https://doi.org/10.1186/s40561-019-0098-x
26. Velázquez-García, L., Longar-Blanco, M. D. P., Cedillo-Hernández, A., & Bustos-Farías, E. (2024). Gamification in the classroom: Motivating higher education students using digital badges. International Journal of Learning and Teaching, 10(4), 532–538. https://doi.org/10.18178/ijlt.10.4.532-538

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

How to cite

Jun, M., & Lucas, T. (2024). Gamification elements and their impacts on education: A review. Multidisciplinary Reviews, 8(5), 2025155. https://doi.org/10.31893/multirev.2025155

[1] Aguilos, V., & Fuchs, K. (2022). The perceived usefulness of gamified e-learning: A study of undergraduate students with implications for higher education. Frontiers in Education, 7. https://doi.org/10.3389/feduc.2022.945536

[2] Alsadoon, E., Alkhawajah, A., & Suhaim, A. B. (2022). Effects of a gamified learning environment on students’ achievement, motivations, and satisfaction. Heliyon, 8(8), e10249. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2022.e10249

[3] Alsadoon, H. (2023). The impact of gamification on student motivation and engagement: An empirical study. Dirasat Educational Sciences, 50(2), 386–396. https://doi.org/10.35516/edu.v50i2.255

[4] Atin, S., Syakuran, R. A., & Afrianto, I. (2022). Implementation of gamification in mathematics m-learning application to creating student engagement. International Journal of Advanced Computer Science and Applications, 13(7). https://doi.org/10.14569/ijacsa.2022.0130765

[5] Chans, G. M., & Castro, M. P. (2021). Gamification as a strategy to increase motivation and engagement in higher education chemistry students. Computers, 10(10), 132. https://doi.org/10.3390/computers10100132

[6] Christopoulos, A., & Mystakidis, S. (2023). Gamification in education. Encyclopedia, 3(4), 1223–1243. https://doi.org/10.3390/encyclopedia3040089

[7] Flores, J. (2015). Using gamification to enhance second language learning. Digital Education Review(27), 32–54. https://doi.org/10.1344/der.2015.27.32-54

[8] Hellín, C. J., Calles-Esteban, F., Valledor, A., Gómez, J., Otón-Tortosa, S., & Tayebi, A. (2023). Enhancing student motivation and engagement through a gamified learning environment. Sustainability, 15(19), 14119. https://doi.org/10.3390/su151914119

[9] Huang, R., Ritzhaupt, A. D., Sommer, M., Zhu, J., Stephen, A., Valle, N., ... Li, J. (2020). The impact of gamification in educational settings on student learning outcomes: A meta-analysis. Educational Technology Research and Development, 68(4), 1875–1901. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11423-020-09807-z

[10] Jain, A., & Dutta, D. (2018). Millennials and gamification: Guerilla tactics for making learning fun. South Asian Journal of Human Resources Management, 6(1), 29–44. https://doi.org/10.1177/2322093718796303

[11] Jusas, V., Barisas, D., & Jančiukas, M. (2022). Game elements towards more sustainable learning in object-oriented programming course. Sustainability, 14(4), 2325. https://doi.org/10.3390/su14042325

[12] Khoshnoodifar, M., Ashouri, A., & Taheri, M. (2023). Effectiveness of gamification in enhancing learning and attitudes: A study of statistics education for health school students. Journal of Advances in Medical Education & Professionalism, 11(4), 230–239. https://doi.org/10.30476/jamp.2023.98953.1817

[13] Krath, J., Schürmann, L., & Von Korflesch, H. F. O. (2021). Revealing the theoretical basis of gamification: A systematic review and analysis of theory in research on gamification, serious games and game-based learning. Computers in Human Behavior, 125, 106963. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chb.2021.106963

[14] Li, M., Ma, S., & Lu, W. (2023). Examining the effectiveness of gamification as a tool promoting teaching and learning in educational settings: A meta-analysis. Frontiers in Psychology, 14. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1253549

[15] Li, X., Xia, Q., Chu, S. K. W., & Yang, Y. (2022). Using gamification to facilitate students’ self-regulation in e-learning: A case study on students’ L2 English learning. Sustainability, 14(12), 7008. https://doi.org/10.3390/su14127008

[16] Minh, D. T., Oanh, L. V. L., & Quỳnh, N. T. (2023). How gamification affects online shopping behavior: An approach with youngsters (aged 16–30). Cogent Business & Management, 10(3). https://doi.org/10.1080/23311975.2023.2256076

[17] Nguyen-Viet, B., & Nguyen-Viet, B. (2023). Enhancing satisfaction among Vietnamese students through gamification: The mediating role of engagement and learning effectiveness. Cogent Education, 10(2). https://doi.org/10.1080/2331186x.2023.2265276

[18] Puig, A., Rodríguez, I., Rodríguez, Á., & Gallego, I. (2023). Evaluating learner engagement with gamification in online courses. Applied Sciences, 13(3), 1535. https://doi.org/10.3390/app13031535

[19] Raharjo, S. R., Handayani, P. W., & Putra, P. O. H. (2021). Active student learning through gamification in a learning management system. The Electronic Journal of e-Learning, 19(6), 601–613. www.ejel.org

[20] Rahayu, F. S., Nugroho, L. E., Ferdiana, R., & Setyohadi, D. B. (2022). Motivation and engagement of final-year students when using e-learning: A qualitative study of gamification in pandemic situation. Sustainability, 14(14), 8906. https://doi.org/10.3390/su14148906

[21] Raju, R., Bhat, S., D’Souza, R., & Singh, A. B. (2021). Effective usage of gamification techniques to boost student engagement. Journal of Engineering Education Transformation, 34(0), 713. https://doi.org/10.16920/jeet/2021/v34i0/157171

[22] Rodrigues, L. F., Oliveira, A., & Rodrigues, H. (2019). Main gamification concepts: A systematic mapping study. Heliyon, 5(7), e01993. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2019.e01993

[23] Sanchez, D. R., Langer, M., & Kaur, R. (2020). Gamification in the classroom: Examining the impact of gamified quizzes on student learning. Computers & Education, 144, 103666. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.compedu.2019.103666

[24] Sharma, W. K., Lim, W. M., Kumar, S., Verma, A., & Kumra, R. (2024). Game on! A state-of-the-art overview of doing business with gamification. Technological Forecasting and Social Change, 198, 122988. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.techfore.2023.122988

[25] Smiderle, R., Rigo, S. J., Marques, L. B., De Miranda Coelho, J. P., & Jaques, P. A. (2020). The impact of gamification on students’ learning, engagement, and behavior based on their personality traits. Smart Learning Environments, 7(1). https://doi.org/10.1186/s40561-019-0098-x

[26] Velázquez-García, L., Longar-Blanco, M. D. P., Cedillo-Hernández, A., & Bustos-Farías, E. (2024). Gamification in the classroom: Motivating higher education students using digital badges. International Journal of Learning and Teaching, 10(4), 532–538. https://doi.org/10.18178/ijlt.10.4.532-538

Abstract

References

How to cite