THE EFFECTS OF DIGITAL GAMES ON ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT: A COMPARATIVE META-ANALYSIS STUDY
Résumé
Play is one of the most fundamental emotional and physical needs inherent in a child’s nature. Games are important activities that contribute to an individual’s physical, cognitive, emotional, and social development from an early age. They also help students to learn actively by doing and experiencing. Especially with the advancement of technology, game-based learning environments have been widely used in recent years, and by means of this method, designed according to the learner’s needs, the permanence of education is ensured. In recent years, as educational and instructional methods have been increasingly diversified, it has become a necessity for teachers to make use of digital educational games in order to provide students with easy and effective instruction and to foster their development in every respect. This study will comparatively examine descriptive and experimental studies conducted between 2015 and 2025 in Turkey and worldwide on the effects of digital games on student achievement and present recommendations in line with the findings. For this purpose, articles and conference papers investigating the impact of digital games on academic achievement in Turkey and worldwide will be analyzed, and the results obtained will be compared. Each study included in this research will be subjected to content analysis. The dimensions included in the content analysis guideline will address each study in terms of its distribution by research method, subject area, sample, data collection tool, and generalized findings. Subsequently, based on the criteria identified in each study, the data will be coded and the frequency and percentage of repetitions of the relevant categories will be presented. In this context, studies conducted in Turkey and worldwide will be compared. The study will conclude with recommendations for future research, derived from the findings of the examined studies.
Références
AĞIRGÖL, M., KARA, E., & AKGÜL, G. D. Eğitsel dijital oyunlarla işlenen fen bilgisi dersinin öğrencinin bilgilerinin kalıcılığına, akademik başarısına ve tutumuna etkisi (The Effect of Science Lesson Taught with Educational Digital Games on Student Retention of Knowledge, Academic Success and Attitudes). International Journal of Science and Education, 5(3), 157-176, 2022.
AKKAN, D., & ERGUN, M. Eğitsel Dijital Oyun Destekli Fen Bilimleri Dersinin Öğrenci Başarı ve Motivasyonuna Etkisi (The Effect of Educational Digital Game-Supported Science Courses on Student Achievement and Motivation). International Journal of Education Technology & Scientific Researches, 9(29)1-9. 2024.
ARSLAN, K., & COŞTU, F. Eğitimin vazgeçilmez parçası dijital oyunlar: Lisansüstü tezlere ait bir sentez çalışması (Digital Games as an Indispensable Part of Education: A Synthesis of GraduateThesis). The Journal of Buca Faculty of Education, (54), 1329-1359, 2022.
AŞCI, A. U. Eğitsel Dijital Oyunların 6. Sınıf Öğrencilerinin Türkçe Dersi Akademik Başarılarına Etkisi (The Effects of Educational Digital Games on 6th Grade Students’ Academic Success in Turkish Lesson). Journal of International Social Research, 12(62), 2019.
BALTEZAREVIĆ, R., & BALTEZAREVIĆ, I. Digital Game-Based Learning’s (DGBL) Effect on Students’ Academic Performance. International Journal of Cognitive Research in Science, Engineering and Education, 13(1), 127-140, 2025.
BURAK, D. Sosyal Bilgiler Dersinde Teknoloji Destekli Öğretimin Öğrencilerin Akademik Başarıları Üzerindeki Etkisi: Meta-Analiz Çalışması (The Effect of Technology Supported Instruction on Students' Academic Achievement in Social Studies Course: A Meta-Analysis Study). International Journal of Turkish Literature, Culture and Education, 12(1), 414-426, 2023.
CAMACHO-SÁNCHEZ, R., RILLO-ALBERT, A., & LAVEGA-BURGUÉS, P. Gamified digital game-based learning as a pedagogical strategy: Student academic performance and motivation. Applied Sciences, 12(21), 11214, 2022.
CASTILLO-CUESTA, L. Using digital games for enhancing EFL grammar and vocabulary in higher education. International Journal of Emerging Technologies in Learning (İJET), 15(20), 116-129, 2020.
ÇOKYAMAN, M., & ŞIMŞEK, H. Eğitsel dijital oyunların 8. sınıf öğrencilerinin İngilizce ders başarısı ve güdülenmelerine etkisi (The Effect of Educational Digital Games on 8th Grade Students’ Academic Achievement and Motivation in English Course). Bolu Abant Izzet Baysal University, Journal of Faculty of Education, 22(2), 708-722, 2022.
DENG, L., WU, S., CHEN, Y., & PENG, Z. Digital game‐based learning in a Shanghai primary‐school mathematics class: A case study. Journal of Computer Assisted Learning, 36(5), 709-717, 2020.
Dinçer, S. Dijital Oyunlar içine yerleştirilen analojilerin fen eğitimi başarısına etkisi (The Effect of Analogies Embedded in Digital Games on Science Education Achievement). International Conference on Science, Mathematics, Entrepreneurship and Technology Education (Vol. 39, p. 42), 2019.
DOĞAN, E., & KOÇ, H. Sosyal bilgiler dersinde deprem konusunun dijital oyunla öğretiminin akademik başarıya etkisi (The Impact of Instruction Through Digital Games on Students’ Academic Achievement in Teaching Earthquakes in a Social Science Class). International Journal of Turkish Education Sciences, 5 (8), 90-100, 2017.
ELMAS, G., & KARAMIK, G. A. Sınıf Tam Sayılar Konusunun Öğretiminde Eğitsel Oyun ve Eğitsel Dijital Oyun Kullanımının Akademik Başarıya ve Kalıcılığa Etkisinin İncelenmesi (Examining the Impact of Educational Games and Digital Learning Tools on Academic Performance and Knowledge Retention in Teaching Sixth Grade Integer Concepts). Western Anatolia Journal of Educational Sciences, 16(2), 2164-2181, 2025.
GEZER, S. U. Educational Games and Relation of Educational Games with 21st Century Skills. Journal of Social Education, (2), 80-94, 2023.
GÖKSEL, N., & KOBAK, K. Çocukların 21. yüzyıl becerilerini kazanmalarına yardımcı çevrimiçi oyun platformları: Roblox örneği (Online Game Platforms that Aid Children in Developing 21st-Century Skills: The Case of Roblox). Cumhuriyet International Journal of Education, 12(4), 969-983, 2023.
GÖZLER A., TURAN BN., TURAN MB. Çocuk oyunlarının ilkokul öğrencilerinin sosyal beceri düzeylerine etkisi (Effects of Children's Games on The Level of Social Skills of Primary School Students). Journal of Physical Education and Sports Sciences. 14(2), 186-201, 2020.
İLKAY, D., & ATIK, A. D. Fen bilimleri dersinde eğitsel dijital oyun kullanımının 6. sınıf öğrencilerinin motivasyonlarına ve akademik başarılarına etkisi (The Effect of Educational Digital Games in Science Lessons on the Motivation and Academic Achievement of 6th-Grade Students). The Journal of Buca Faculty of Education, (59), 1-26, 2024.
İNAL, G., & ÇAKIR, R. Eğitsel Dijital Oyunların İkinci Dil Olarak Türkçe Öğrenenlerin Dil Becerilerine ve Akademik Başarılarına Etkisi (The Effect of Educational Games On the Language Skills and Academic Success of Those Learning Turkish as A Second Language). Turkish Journal of Primary Education, 9(2), 60-85, 2024.
IVGIN, A. B., & AKCAY, H. The Impact of Using Educational and Digital Games on Middle School Students Science Achievement. International Journal of Technology in Education, 7(3), 386-416, 2024.
KARA, M. Oyunlarla yabancılara Türkçe öğretimi (Teaching Turkish to Foreigners through Games). Journal of Turkology Research, (27), 407-421, 2010.
KAYA, O., AKGÜL, G. D., PINAR, M. A., & VARLIK, M. 5. Sınıflarda Biyoçeşitlilik Konusunun Öğretimine Dijital ve Geleneksel Oyunların Etkisi (Investigation of the Impact of Digital and Traditional Games on Biodiversity Teaching in 5th Grades). Journal of Instructional Technologies & Teacher Education, 13(1), 1-20, 2024.
Little, T. W. (2015). Effects of digital game-based learning on student engagement and academic achievement. Lamar University-Beaumont.
LIU, S., ZHANG, S., & DAI, Y. Do mobile games improve language learning? A meta-analysis. Computer Assisted Language Learning, 1-29, 2025.
MARTINEZ, L., GIMENES, M., & LAMBERT, E. Entertainment video games for academic learning: A systematic review. Journal of Educational Computing Research, 60(5), 1083-1109, 2022.
MEDDAGE, D. N. R., AKURETIYA, D. A., ISMAIL, M. I. F., & KANNANGARA, N. A. The Effect of online Games Play on Academic Performance: SLIATE as Case Study. 5(2), 125-132, 2024.
NADEEM, M., OROSZLANYOVA, M., & FARAG, W. Effect of digital game-based learning on student engagement and motivation. Computers, 12(9), 177, 2023.
ÖZTIRAK, M. Dijital oyun tasarımıyla kurumsal eğitimde etkileşimli öğrenme ve oyunlaştırma (Player Type-Based Gamification in Corporate Education From a Digital Game Design Perspective). Scientific Journal of Space Management and Space Economy, 5(1), 45-55, 2025.
ÖZTOP, F. İlkokul matematik öğretiminde dijital ve dijital olmayan oyun kullanımının etkililiği: Bir meta-analiz çalışması (Effectiveness of Using Digital and Non-digital Games in Primary Mathematics Teaching: A Meta-Analysis Study). International Primary Education Research Journal, 6(1), 65-80, 2022.
PECHENKINA, E., LAURENCE, D., OATES, G., ELDRIDGE, D., & HUNTER, D. Using a gamified mobile app to increase student engagement, retention and academic achievement. International Journal of Educational Technology in Higher Education, 14(1), 31, 2017.
PINAR, M. A., & AKGÜL, G. D. Hücre ve bölünmeler ünitesinin işlenmesinde eğitsel dijital oyunların etkisi (The Effect of Educational Digital Games on Teaching the "Cell and Divisions" Unit). IBAD Journal of Social Sciences, (17), 1-24, 2024.
RABU, S. N. A., & TALIB, Z. The effects of digital game-based learning on primary school students’ English vocabulary achievement and acceptance. Innovative Teaching and Learning Journal (ITLJ), 1(1), 61-74, 2017.
SUNGUR, S. N., & BIRCAN, M. A. Dijital Oyun Temelli Kesirler Öğretiminin İlkokul 4. Sınıf Öğrencilerinin Matematik Motivasyonu, Kaygı Düzeyi ve Akademik Başarılarına Etkisinin İncelenmesi (Examining the Effect of Digital Game-Based Fractions Teaching on Mathematics Motivation, Anxiety Level and Academic Achievement of 4th Grade Primary School Students). Turkish Scientific Researches Journal, 9(2), 172-191, 2024.
TAŞ, N., COŞKUN, M. R., AYVERDI, G., & BOLAT, Y. İ. Matematik Eğitiminde Dijital Oyunlaştırma Etkinlikleri Kullanımının Ortaokul Öğrencilerinin Akademik Başarılarına ve Tutumlarına Etkisi (The Effect of Digital Gamification Activities in Mathematics Education on Middle School Students' Academic Achievements and Attitudes). International Journal of Eurasia Social Science, 14(53), 1-8, 2023.
VANBECELAERE, S., VAN DEN BERGHE, K., CORNILLIE, F., SASANGUIE, D., REYNVOET, B., & DEPAEPE, F. The effects of two digital educational games on cognitive and non-cognitive math and reading outcomes. Computers & Education, 143, 103680, 2020.
VNUCKO, G., KRALOVA, Z., & TIRPAKOVA, A. Exploring the relationship between digital gaming, language attitudes, and academic success in EFL university students. Heliyon, 10(13), 1-14, 2024.
YEH, Y. T., HUNG, H. T., & HSU, Y. J. Digital game-based learning for improving students' academic achievement, learning motivation, and willingness to communicate in an English course. In 2017 6th IIAI International Congress on Advanced Applied Informatics (IIAI-AAI) (pp. 560-563). IEEE, 2017.
YU, Y. T., & TSUEI, M. The effects of digital game-based learning on children’s Chinese language learning, attention and self-efficacy. Interactive Learning Environments, 31(10), 6113-6132, 2023.
YURDAARMAĞAN, B., MELEK, C. G., MERDENYAN, B., CIKRIKCILI, O., SALMAN, Y. B., & CHENG, H. The effects of digital game-based learning on performance and motivation for high school students. ICIC Express Letters. 9(5), 1465-1469, 2025.
ZENGIN, M. Ingilizce Kelime Oğretiminde Eğitsel Bilgisayar Oyunları Kullanımının Oğrencilerin Başarı ve Tutumlarına Etkisi (The Effect of Use of Educational Computer Games on the Success and Attitudes of Students in Teaching English Vocabulary) (Master's thesis, Bursa Uludag University (Turkey), 2019.
AKKAN, D., & ERGUN, M. Eğitsel Dijital Oyun Destekli Fen Bilimleri Dersinin Öğrenci Başarı ve Motivasyonuna Etkisi (The Effect of Educational Digital Game-Supported Science Courses on Student Achievement and Motivation). International Journal of Education Technology & Scientific Researches, 9(29)1-9. 2024.
ARSLAN, K., & COŞTU, F. Eğitimin vazgeçilmez parçası dijital oyunlar: Lisansüstü tezlere ait bir sentez çalışması (Digital Games as an Indispensable Part of Education: A Synthesis of GraduateThesis). The Journal of Buca Faculty of Education, (54), 1329-1359, 2022.
AŞCI, A. U. Eğitsel Dijital Oyunların 6. Sınıf Öğrencilerinin Türkçe Dersi Akademik Başarılarına Etkisi (The Effects of Educational Digital Games on 6th Grade Students’ Academic Success in Turkish Lesson). Journal of International Social Research, 12(62), 2019.
BALTEZAREVIĆ, R., & BALTEZAREVIĆ, I. Digital Game-Based Learning’s (DGBL) Effect on Students’ Academic Performance. International Journal of Cognitive Research in Science, Engineering and Education, 13(1), 127-140, 2025.
BURAK, D. Sosyal Bilgiler Dersinde Teknoloji Destekli Öğretimin Öğrencilerin Akademik Başarıları Üzerindeki Etkisi: Meta-Analiz Çalışması (The Effect of Technology Supported Instruction on Students' Academic Achievement in Social Studies Course: A Meta-Analysis Study). International Journal of Turkish Literature, Culture and Education, 12(1), 414-426, 2023.
CAMACHO-SÁNCHEZ, R., RILLO-ALBERT, A., & LAVEGA-BURGUÉS, P. Gamified digital game-based learning as a pedagogical strategy: Student academic performance and motivation. Applied Sciences, 12(21), 11214, 2022.
CASTILLO-CUESTA, L. Using digital games for enhancing EFL grammar and vocabulary in higher education. International Journal of Emerging Technologies in Learning (İJET), 15(20), 116-129, 2020.
ÇOKYAMAN, M., & ŞIMŞEK, H. Eğitsel dijital oyunların 8. sınıf öğrencilerinin İngilizce ders başarısı ve güdülenmelerine etkisi (The Effect of Educational Digital Games on 8th Grade Students’ Academic Achievement and Motivation in English Course). Bolu Abant Izzet Baysal University, Journal of Faculty of Education, 22(2), 708-722, 2022.
DENG, L., WU, S., CHEN, Y., & PENG, Z. Digital game‐based learning in a Shanghai primary‐school mathematics class: A case study. Journal of Computer Assisted Learning, 36(5), 709-717, 2020.
Dinçer, S. Dijital Oyunlar içine yerleştirilen analojilerin fen eğitimi başarısına etkisi (The Effect of Analogies Embedded in Digital Games on Science Education Achievement). International Conference on Science, Mathematics, Entrepreneurship and Technology Education (Vol. 39, p. 42), 2019.
DOĞAN, E., & KOÇ, H. Sosyal bilgiler dersinde deprem konusunun dijital oyunla öğretiminin akademik başarıya etkisi (The Impact of Instruction Through Digital Games on Students’ Academic Achievement in Teaching Earthquakes in a Social Science Class). International Journal of Turkish Education Sciences, 5 (8), 90-100, 2017.
ELMAS, G., & KARAMIK, G. A. Sınıf Tam Sayılar Konusunun Öğretiminde Eğitsel Oyun ve Eğitsel Dijital Oyun Kullanımının Akademik Başarıya ve Kalıcılığa Etkisinin İncelenmesi (Examining the Impact of Educational Games and Digital Learning Tools on Academic Performance and Knowledge Retention in Teaching Sixth Grade Integer Concepts). Western Anatolia Journal of Educational Sciences, 16(2), 2164-2181, 2025.
GEZER, S. U. Educational Games and Relation of Educational Games with 21st Century Skills. Journal of Social Education, (2), 80-94, 2023.
GÖKSEL, N., & KOBAK, K. Çocukların 21. yüzyıl becerilerini kazanmalarına yardımcı çevrimiçi oyun platformları: Roblox örneği (Online Game Platforms that Aid Children in Developing 21st-Century Skills: The Case of Roblox). Cumhuriyet International Journal of Education, 12(4), 969-983, 2023.
GÖZLER A., TURAN BN., TURAN MB. Çocuk oyunlarının ilkokul öğrencilerinin sosyal beceri düzeylerine etkisi (Effects of Children's Games on The Level of Social Skills of Primary School Students). Journal of Physical Education and Sports Sciences. 14(2), 186-201, 2020.
İLKAY, D., & ATIK, A. D. Fen bilimleri dersinde eğitsel dijital oyun kullanımının 6. sınıf öğrencilerinin motivasyonlarına ve akademik başarılarına etkisi (The Effect of Educational Digital Games in Science Lessons on the Motivation and Academic Achievement of 6th-Grade Students). The Journal of Buca Faculty of Education, (59), 1-26, 2024.
İNAL, G., & ÇAKIR, R. Eğitsel Dijital Oyunların İkinci Dil Olarak Türkçe Öğrenenlerin Dil Becerilerine ve Akademik Başarılarına Etkisi (The Effect of Educational Games On the Language Skills and Academic Success of Those Learning Turkish as A Second Language). Turkish Journal of Primary Education, 9(2), 60-85, 2024.
IVGIN, A. B., & AKCAY, H. The Impact of Using Educational and Digital Games on Middle School Students Science Achievement. International Journal of Technology in Education, 7(3), 386-416, 2024.
KARA, M. Oyunlarla yabancılara Türkçe öğretimi (Teaching Turkish to Foreigners through Games). Journal of Turkology Research, (27), 407-421, 2010.
KAYA, O., AKGÜL, G. D., PINAR, M. A., & VARLIK, M. 5. Sınıflarda Biyoçeşitlilik Konusunun Öğretimine Dijital ve Geleneksel Oyunların Etkisi (Investigation of the Impact of Digital and Traditional Games on Biodiversity Teaching in 5th Grades). Journal of Instructional Technologies & Teacher Education, 13(1), 1-20, 2024.
Little, T. W. (2015). Effects of digital game-based learning on student engagement and academic achievement. Lamar University-Beaumont.
LIU, S., ZHANG, S., & DAI, Y. Do mobile games improve language learning? A meta-analysis. Computer Assisted Language Learning, 1-29, 2025.
MARTINEZ, L., GIMENES, M., & LAMBERT, E. Entertainment video games for academic learning: A systematic review. Journal of Educational Computing Research, 60(5), 1083-1109, 2022.
MEDDAGE, D. N. R., AKURETIYA, D. A., ISMAIL, M. I. F., & KANNANGARA, N. A. The Effect of online Games Play on Academic Performance: SLIATE as Case Study. 5(2), 125-132, 2024.
NADEEM, M., OROSZLANYOVA, M., & FARAG, W. Effect of digital game-based learning on student engagement and motivation. Computers, 12(9), 177, 2023.
ÖZTIRAK, M. Dijital oyun tasarımıyla kurumsal eğitimde etkileşimli öğrenme ve oyunlaştırma (Player Type-Based Gamification in Corporate Education From a Digital Game Design Perspective). Scientific Journal of Space Management and Space Economy, 5(1), 45-55, 2025.
ÖZTOP, F. İlkokul matematik öğretiminde dijital ve dijital olmayan oyun kullanımının etkililiği: Bir meta-analiz çalışması (Effectiveness of Using Digital and Non-digital Games in Primary Mathematics Teaching: A Meta-Analysis Study). International Primary Education Research Journal, 6(1), 65-80, 2022.
PECHENKINA, E., LAURENCE, D., OATES, G., ELDRIDGE, D., & HUNTER, D. Using a gamified mobile app to increase student engagement, retention and academic achievement. International Journal of Educational Technology in Higher Education, 14(1), 31, 2017.
PINAR, M. A., & AKGÜL, G. D. Hücre ve bölünmeler ünitesinin işlenmesinde eğitsel dijital oyunların etkisi (The Effect of Educational Digital Games on Teaching the "Cell and Divisions" Unit). IBAD Journal of Social Sciences, (17), 1-24, 2024.
RABU, S. N. A., & TALIB, Z. The effects of digital game-based learning on primary school students’ English vocabulary achievement and acceptance. Innovative Teaching and Learning Journal (ITLJ), 1(1), 61-74, 2017.
SUNGUR, S. N., & BIRCAN, M. A. Dijital Oyun Temelli Kesirler Öğretiminin İlkokul 4. Sınıf Öğrencilerinin Matematik Motivasyonu, Kaygı Düzeyi ve Akademik Başarılarına Etkisinin İncelenmesi (Examining the Effect of Digital Game-Based Fractions Teaching on Mathematics Motivation, Anxiety Level and Academic Achievement of 4th Grade Primary School Students). Turkish Scientific Researches Journal, 9(2), 172-191, 2024.
TAŞ, N., COŞKUN, M. R., AYVERDI, G., & BOLAT, Y. İ. Matematik Eğitiminde Dijital Oyunlaştırma Etkinlikleri Kullanımının Ortaokul Öğrencilerinin Akademik Başarılarına ve Tutumlarına Etkisi (The Effect of Digital Gamification Activities in Mathematics Education on Middle School Students' Academic Achievements and Attitudes). International Journal of Eurasia Social Science, 14(53), 1-8, 2023.
VANBECELAERE, S., VAN DEN BERGHE, K., CORNILLIE, F., SASANGUIE, D., REYNVOET, B., & DEPAEPE, F. The effects of two digital educational games on cognitive and non-cognitive math and reading outcomes. Computers & Education, 143, 103680, 2020.
VNUCKO, G., KRALOVA, Z., & TIRPAKOVA, A. Exploring the relationship between digital gaming, language attitudes, and academic success in EFL university students. Heliyon, 10(13), 1-14, 2024.
YEH, Y. T., HUNG, H. T., & HSU, Y. J. Digital game-based learning for improving students' academic achievement, learning motivation, and willingness to communicate in an English course. In 2017 6th IIAI International Congress on Advanced Applied Informatics (IIAI-AAI) (pp. 560-563). IEEE, 2017.
YU, Y. T., & TSUEI, M. The effects of digital game-based learning on children’s Chinese language learning, attention and self-efficacy. Interactive Learning Environments, 31(10), 6113-6132, 2023.
YURDAARMAĞAN, B., MELEK, C. G., MERDENYAN, B., CIKRIKCILI, O., SALMAN, Y. B., & CHENG, H. The effects of digital game-based learning on performance and motivation for high school students. ICIC Express Letters. 9(5), 1465-1469, 2025.
ZENGIN, M. Ingilizce Kelime Oğretiminde Eğitsel Bilgisayar Oyunları Kullanımının Oğrencilerin Başarı ve Tutumlarına Etkisi (The Effect of Use of Educational Computer Games on the Success and Attitudes of Students in Teaching English Vocabulary) (Master's thesis, Bursa Uludag University (Turkey), 2019.
Publiée
2026-02-04
Rubrique
FLUXO CONTÍNUO - Artigos
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