gamification
Points for participation
Gamification is the application of game-like elements—points, badges, leaderboards, challenges—to non-game contexts to increase engagement or motivation.
Companies use gamification in apps, employee training, and customer loyalty programs: The fitness app's gamification kept me coming back.
Critics argue it can feel manipulative or reduce intrinsic motivation to external rewards.
Worn symbol of membership
- pointsUnits of tally
- trophyAward for winning
- medalMetal honor token
- leaderboardRanked list of competitors
achievement · unlockable · bonus · prize · milestone · progression · ranking · stars
Seeking journey for something
tutorial · checkpoint · respawn · timer · cooldown · inventory · avatar · combo
Reciprocal action between parties
- participationAct of taking part
- immersionState of being submerged
- feedbackReturned response data
- retentionContinued holding or possession
onboarding · community · collaboration · notification · personalization · trigger · hook · stickiness
Belonging by nature
- extrinsicNot inherent or essential
- incentiveReward encouraging action
- goal-settingEstablishing intended outcomes
- progressMovement toward improvement
mastery · autonomy · purpose · self-determination · competence · relatedness · dopamine · satisfaction
Amusement or pleasure
- entertainmentAgreeable diversion of attention
- enjoymentState of relishing something
- amusementPleased entertainment state
- recreationRefreshment through leisure
delight · playfulness · humor · whimsy · sandbox · minigame · casual
Ranked list of competitors
- rankingOrdered position assignment
- tournamentMulti-round competitive event
- versusIn opposition to
- PvPHuman-versus-human game mode
matchmaking · season · league · championship · rival · showdown · bracket · playoffs
badge
Worn symbol of membership
leaderboard · achievement · unlockable · bonus · prize · milestone · progression · ranking · stars · streak
quest
Seeking journey for something
objective · tutorial · checkpoint · respawn · timer · cooldown · inventory · avatar · combo · multiplier
interaction
Reciprocal action between parties
- participationAct of taking part
- immersionState of being submerged
- feedbackReturned response data
retention · onboarding · community · collaboration · notification · personalization · trigger · hook · stickiness · replayability
intrinsic
Belonging by nature
- extrinsicNot inherent or essential
- incentiveReward encouraging action
- goal-settingEstablishing intended outcomes
progress · mastery · autonomy · purpose · self-determination · competence · relatedness · dopamine · satisfaction · accomplishment
fun
Amusement or pleasure
- entertainmentAgreeable diversion of attention
- enjoymentState of relishing something
- amusementPleased entertainment state
recreation · delight · playfulness · humor · whimsy · sandbox · minigame · casual
leaderboard
Ranked list of competitors
- rankingOrdered position assignment
- tournamentMulti-round competitive event
- versusIn opposition to
PvP · matchmaking · season · league · championship · rival · showdown · bracket · playoffs · arena
- interactive mediavideo games, video game, apps, interactive fiction, mobile apps
- teaching methodspresentation, lecturing, discussion, modeling, hands-on learning
- game designmechanics, level design, game balance, balancing, playtesting
- business buzzwordsbrainstorming, breakthrough, design thinking, scaling, pitching
- Customer Engagementloyalty programs, customer loyalty, customer retention, retention, brand loyalty
- Education Trendsblended learning, flipped classroom, personalized learning, STEM, online learning
gamificationbusiness as usual
Continuation of normal routine
utilitarian design · minimalism · tedium · drudgery · monotony
gamificationintrinsic motivation
Desire from within oneself
self-determination · internal drive · self-motivation · coercion · compulsion