Why Learning Through Games Improves Retention (Backed by Research)
For a long time, games in learning were treated like a reward.
Something extra.
Something fun you did after the lesson was over.
But research continues to show something different:
Games don’t just support learning—they can improve it.
When designed well, game-based learning can increase engagement, strengthen recall, improve participation, and help learners retain information more effectively than passive review alone.
And the science behind it is compelling.
Why game-based learning helps people remember more
Memory improves when learners actively retrieve information instead of simply rereading it.
Educational psychologists often call this retrieval practice—the process of pulling information from memory.
This matters because the act of remembering strengthens the memory itself.
Games naturally create repeated retrieval practice.
Learners are constantly:
- recalling facts
- solving problems
- making decisions
- receiving immediate feedback
- repeating concepts in new ways
That repetition improves retention.
It also makes learning feel less passive and more memorable.
What the research says
A 2020 meta-analysis published in Educational Psychology Review examined gamification and learning outcomes and found that game-based elements positively impacted learning performance, motivation, and engagement across educational settings.
A 2024 meta-analysis published in Computers & Education Open found that both serious games and gamification had a positive effect on learning achievement and motivation, with gamification showing especially strong effects on motivation.
A 2023 meta-analysis focused on STEM education found that game-based learning improved:
- cognition
- motivation
- classroom behavior
across early STEM learners.
A 2025 study published in Education Sciences found that game-based learning enhanced student engagement, self-efficacy, and knowledge retention across multiple disciplines, including biology and architecture.
And a 2024 longitudinal study on knowledge retention found that learners maintained strong performance one year after game-based training, with no statistically significant decline in test performance over time.
Taken together, the research is clear:
Game-based learning consistently supports stronger engagement—and often stronger retention.
Why engagement matters for retention
People remember what they pay attention to.
And attention is hard to keep.
Whether in a classroom, training session, workshop, or team meeting, passive learning can lose people quickly.
Games shift the energy.
They add:
- curiosity
- urgency
- competition
- challenge
- collaboration
- reward
These increase attention.
Attention improves memory encoding.
And better encoding leads to stronger recall later.
That’s why a review game often “sticks” in a way a worksheet doesn’t.
Why Jeopardy-style games work especially well
Jeopardy-style learning games combine several evidence-based learning strategies into one experience.
They create:
Retrieval practice
Learners pull information from memory.
Immediate feedback
They know instantly if they’re correct.
Repetition
Key ideas can be revisited across multiple clues.
Social learning
Teams discuss, debate, and reinforce knowledge together.
Emotional engagement
Competition increases focus and energy.
This makes learning feel active—not passive.
And active learning tends to last longer.
Game-based learning isn’t just for classrooms
While game-based learning is common in schools, its benefits go far beyond K–12 education.
It’s increasingly used in:
- classrooms
- college courses
- employee onboarding
- sales training
- workshops
- team-building events
- review sessions
- trivia nights
A classroom can use it to prepare for a science test.
A sales team can use it to practice objection handling.
A company can use it to make training more engaging.
The format changes.
The learning science stays the same.
Learning works better when people participate
The future of learning isn’t just more content.
It’s better participation.
When learners are challenged, engaged, and actively involved, they’re more likely to remember what they’ve learned—and enjoy the process.
That’s why games continue to be such a powerful teaching tool.
Not because they’re fun.
But because they help learning stick.
Try game-based learning with Kleveroo
Kleveroo helps teachers, teams, and hosts turn learning into interactive game experiences people actually want to play.
Build a Jeopardy-style board in minutes, host it live, or explore ready-to-play boards across classrooms, work teams, and trivia night.
Because when learning feels engaging, people remember more.
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References
Sailer, M., & Homner, L. (2020). The Gamification of Learning: A Meta-analysis. Educational Psychology Review.
Ren, J. et al. (2024). The Impact of Educational Games on Learning Outcomes. Computers & Education Open.
Arztmann, M. et al. (2023). Effects of Games in STEM Education: A Meta-analysis on Cognition, Motivation and Behavior.
Seddighi-Khavidak, S. et al. (2025). Game-Based Learning Enhances Engagement and Knowledge Retention. Education Sciences.
Kanade, S. et al. (2024). Evaluating the Effectiveness of Game-Based Learning for Long-Term Knowledge Retention.