Comparative trends, implementation strategies, and educational impact of gamification in Indonesia and Malaysia: A prisma-based systematic literature review

Gamification has become one of the most influential pedagogical innovations in digital education, yet comparative evidence regarding its development, implementation, and educational impact across neighboring Southeast Asian countries remains limited. This study aims to comparatively examine the research trends, implementation strategies, and educational impacts of gamification in Indonesia and Malaysia between 2021 and 2026. A Systematic Literature Review (SLR) was conducted following the PRISMA 2020 guidelines through four stages: identification, screening, eligibility assessment, and qualitative synthesis of peer-reviewed journal articles indexed in major academic databases. The synthesis generated three principal themes. Theme 1 reveals a substantial growth of gamification research, demonstrating a transition from motivation-oriented game elements toward adaptive, mobile, artificial intelligence-supported, and immersive learning ecosystems. Theme 2 indicates that successful implementation increasingly depends on pedagogical integration, the use of digital technology, teacher readiness, and institutional support, with Indonesia emphasizing classroom innovation and the development of learning media. In contrast, Malaysia focuses more on technology acceptance, professional development, and sustainable institutional implementation. Theme 3 demonstrates that gamification consistently enhances cognitive, affective, and behavioral learning outcomes, including academic achievement, motivation, engagement, collaboration, and problem-solving skills, although its effectiveness remains context-dependent. The novelty of this review lies in providing the first PRISMA-based comparative synthesis integrating research evolution, implementation strategies, and educational impacts across Indonesia and Malaysia. This study contributes a comprehensive analytical framework that informs future research, evidence-based educational policies, and the development of adaptive, sustainable, and culturally responsive gamification practices in Southeast Asian education.