The benefits of implementing tabletop games in teaching and learning: a review of the literature

Gamification in education has gained significant popularity, leading to extensive research across various disciplines. Among these approaches, educational tabletop games have emerged as highly interactive and effective tools for teaching and learning. Tabletop games, which are played on a flat surface following specific rules without digital support, offer unique educational benefits. This study aims to review existing literature on the impact of educational tabletop games in diverse educational settings. Employing a systematic review and qualitative content analysis, the authors examined 20 research articles published between 2020 and 2024 from three databases: Science Direct, Scopus, and Sage Journals. The reviewed literature highlights the positive effects of educational tabletop games on students' cognitive skills, engagement and motivation, learning and retention, and skills development. These games significantly enhance numerical abilities, critical thinking, problem-solving, and collaboration among students. The interactive nature of tabletop games promotes active participation and long-term retention of course material, making them a valuable tool in various educational contexts. Overall, educational tabletop games demonstrate versatility and effectiveness across different disciplines. As gamification continues to rise in education, further research is needed to explore educational game design and identify key features that can help educators create valuable and impactful learning experiences.

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