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Cited by 34Educational Games and GamificationEducator Training and Historical PedagogyInnovative Teaching Methodologies in Social Sciences

The Gaming Revolution in History Education: The Practice and Challenges of Integrating Game-Based Learning into Formal Education

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Lai, Chien-Hung, Hu, Po-Yi·2025·Information
DOI 10.3390/info16060490
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Abstract

This study conducts a comprehensive literature review to explore the potential and challenges of integrating game-based learning (GBL) into formal history education. Given the increasing interest in the educational value of games, this review systematically examines academic research published over the past fifteen years. The analysis focuses on two major themes: (1) the development and theoretical underpinnings of history-related game-based learning, and (2) the difficulties encountered when implementing GBL in formal education systems, including issues related to curriculum alignment, teacher readiness, and instructional assessment. Drawing on 118 selected high-impact publications, this review identifies both the pedagogical benefits and the structural limitations of using historical games in the classroom. The findings highlight that while game-based learning holds promise in improving students’ engagement, motivation, and understanding of historical content, its practical implementation requires careful instructional design, sufficient resources, and alignment with national educational standards. This review concludes by proposing a set of strategic recommendations to guide future integration efforts of GBL into history education. As a literature review, this study does not involve empirical data collection but rather synthesizes existing research findings to inform educational practice and future inquiry.

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  • History and civilization games such as Civilization can foster interdisciplinary connections, build historical reasoning, and provide perspective.

    “Games such as Civilization can bring textbooks to life by immersing adolescents in decision-rich simulations that foster interdisciplinary connections, build historical reasoning, and provide perspective [53].”

    From Health Benefits of Video Games in Adolescents and Young Adults (2026) · cites this paper as [53]

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3 of the 138 references couldn’t be matched to a known paper.

Research works printed but not linked: 8

  1. Schell, J. The Art of Game Design: A Book of Lenses; CRC Press: Boca Raton, FL, USA, 2008.
  2. Klopfer, E.; Osterweil, S.; Salen, K. Moving Learning Games Forward; The Education Arcade: Cambridge, MA, USA, 2009.
  3. Petri, L.; Jussi, H. Game Design Research: An Introduction to Theory & Practice; ETC Press: Pittsburgh, PN, USA, 2017.
  4. Lankoski, P.; Holopainen, J. Game Design Research; ETC Press: Pittsburgh, PN, USA, 2017; p. 1.
  5. Pintrich, P.R. Chapter 14-the role of goal orientation in self-regulated learning. In Handbook of Self-Regulation; Academic Press: Cambridge, MA, USA, 1991; pp. 452-502.
  6. Whitton, N. Learning with Digital Games: A Practical Guide to Engaging Students in Higher Education; Routledge: Milton Park, UK, 2009. 112.
  7. Clark, R.C.; Mayer, R.E. E-Learning and the Science of Instruction: Proven Guidelines for Consumers and Designers of Multimedia Learning; John Wiley & Sons: Hoboken, NJ, USA, 2023. 134.
  8. Hamari, J.; Shernoff, D.J.; Rowe, E.; Coller, B.; Asbell-Clarke, J.; Edwards, T. Challenging games help students learn: An empirical study on engagement, flow and immersion in game-based learning. Comput. Hum. Behav. 2016, 54, 170-179.

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Authors
Lai, C.-H., & Hu, P.-Y.
Affiliations
  • Chung Yuan Christian University (TW)
  • Department of Information and Computer Engineering, Chung Yuan Christian University, Taoyuan City 320314, Taiwan
Corresponding author
Lai, Chien-Hung
Venue
Information
Publisher
MDPI AG
Published
2025-06-12
Volume
16
Issue
6
Pages
490
ISSN
2078-2489 (ISSN-L)
DOI
10.3390/info16060490
OpenAlex
W4411235061
Cited by
18
References
138
Citations by year
2026: 14 · 2025: 4
FWCI
36.12
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
Locations
  • Information (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals) (submittedVersion, cc-by-sa)
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Developmental and Educational Psychology › Educational Games and Gamification
  • Social Sciences › Sociology and Political Science › Educator Training and Historical Pedagogy
  • Social Sciences › Education › Innovative Teaching Methodologies in Social Sciences
Keywords
game-based learning, history education, curriculum alignment, teacher readiness, teaching evaluation, student engagement, student motivation, instructional design, implementation barriers

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