Exploring the Frontiers of Gamification: A Bibliometric Analysis of Research Trends and Influences

Gamification has become popular in industries. However, its presence in healthcare remains in the early stages. This study conducts a bibliometric analysis to explore gamification in a broad sense and its potential in healthcare. A bibliometric and network analysis (2011–2023) based on 5,240 papers from 8,722 scholars in the Scopus database identifies key scholars and influential articles. Publications are analysed by source title, citations, country, and institution. The results indicate that gamification is less applied in healthcare than in education and other fields. Bibliometric networks, such as co-occurrence networks of keywords and authors, are examined. A cluster-based content analysis further explores gamification in healthcare. Findings demonstrate a growing academic interest in gamification, with key research topics focusing on motivations for implementation, learning, healthcare, well-being, and social networks. The study highlights research gaps, particularly in linking gamification to healthcare. To address this, a multilevel framework is proposed to guide future research on gamification in healthcare.