Gamification and adaptive gamification in MOOCs: A systematic literature review

The purpose of this study is to present current research on gamification in MOOCs. These approaches aim to enhance the effectiveness of MOOCs by addressing challenges such as low completion rates, high dropout rates, low participant engagement, feelings of isolation, motivational issues, inadequate collaboration among participants, etc. To address the problem, rigorous papers were collected on gamification and adaptive gamification in MOOCs. The findings were categorized based on each paper’s specific challenges, providing valuable insights for researchers and MOOC designers in creating new courses for further study. The analysis indicated that both gamified and adaptive gamified MOOCs can have a positive impact on distance education. The incorporation of gamification elements into these courses significantly enhances their effectiveness by overcoming the limitations associated with traditional MOOCs. Distance education can offer an improved learning experience by implementing gamification and adaptive gamification. This review aims to assist researchers and practitioners involved in gamified and adaptive gamified MOOCs in avoiding or minimizing these challenges and managing them systematically. Additionally, it emphasizes the significance of gamification in enhancing the effectiveness of MOOCs. Received: July 7, 2025 Accepted: July 23, 2025 DOI: https://doi.org/10.17654/0973700625002