Research has shown that using approaches that integrate elements of games and playful design into traditional learning transforms static experiences into engaging ones. This is important in the context of challenges in education: learning outcomes in literacy and numeracy reached unprecedented lows, and the need for a skilled workforce has never been higher.

Educators and EdTechs are leveraging the motivational power of games to actively engage learners across ages and subjects, from pre-kindergarten to higher education and professional development. The spectrum of solutions encompasses two main approaches:

Gamification: Applying game elements like points, levels, and rewards to enhance existing learning activities. Game-based learning: Leveraging commercially-made games or designing entire learning experiences as interactive games with specific learning objectives embedded within the gameplay.

A central theme unites the gamification market: enhancing the learning experience. This umbrella concept encompasses increased engagement, enhanced skill development, and improved knowledge retention. From a range of analog and digital toys and manipulatives used for early literacy to fully immersive VR simulations for workforce training, gamified learning makes the learning experience interactive, a core principle to enhancing the learning experience.

Technological advancements like artificial intelligence are likely to play a role in shaping the market’s future. With the ability to analyze large datasets generated by learner interactions and providing insights into behaviors and preferences, AI may be able to inform the design of personalized experiences across learning content within a game itself.