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Visible Learning™
Visible Learning MetaX
Version 1.4 – Updated February 2026

Gaming in Math

Overview

  • Influence: Gaming in Math
  • Domain: Technology, School, and Out-of-School Strategies
  • Sub-Domain: Gaming
  • Potential to Accelerate Student Achievement: Potential to accelerate
  • Influence Definition: The use of games to augment or replace traditional teaching in math classes

Evidence

  • Number of meta-analyses: 11
  • Number of studies: 206
  • Number of students: 1,602
  • Number of effects: 219
  • Weighted mean effect size: 0.51
  • Robustness index: 3

Meta-Analyses

Meta-Analyses
Journal Title Author Article Name Year Published Variable Number of Studies Number of Students Number of Effects Effect Size
School Science and Mathematics Byun & Joung Digital game-based learning for K–12 mathematics education: A meta-analysis 2018 Digital games in math 17 NA 17 0.37
Conference paper Alvarez-Montero, Rocha-Ruiz, Leyva-Cruz, Moreno-Alcaraz, & Alvarez-Arredondo The Instrumental Approach and Academic Achievement in Mathematics: A Systematic Review, Reliability Evaluation and Meta-analysis. 2018 Instrumental approach 21 NA 21 0.26
Journal of Computer Assisted Learning Tokac, Novak, & Thompson Effects of game-based learning on students' mathematics achievement: A meta-analysis 2019 Video games on math 13 NA 13 0.26
Dissertation Okeke The impact of digital games on high school students' academic achievement in mathematics education: A meta-analytic investigation 2018 Games in math 6 NA 6 0.43
International Journal of Engineering, Science, and Mathematics Madu, Okwundu, Eze Meta-analysis of research findings of research findings on effect of games on secondary school students' mathematics achievement in Nigeria. 2016 Games in math 26 NA 26 0.48
International Electronic Journal of Elementary Education Turgut & Temur The effect of game-assisted mathematics education on academic achievement in Turkey: A meta-analysis study.  2017 Game based in math 26 NA 31 0.79
Educational Research Review Kacmaz & Dubé Examining pedagogical approaches and types of mathematics knowledge in educational games: A meta-analysis and critical review. 2022 Gaming teaching methods 26 NA 26 0.42
Conference paper Lu, Cui, Lei, & Shengnan Effects of Game-Based Learning on Students' Computational Thinking: A Meta-Analysis 2022 Video games on computational thinking 22 NA 29 0.62
Conference paper Wen & Dubé Meta-analysis of emotional design principles' impact on achievement emotions and math achievement in game-based learning 2022 Gaming on math 12 NA 12 0.66
Dissertation Conmy We Are Still Playing: A Meta-Analysis of Game-Based Learning in Mathematics Education 2023 Gaming on math 17 1,602 17 0.30
International Primary Educational Research Journal Öztop Effectiveness of using digital and non-digital games in primary mathematics teaching: A meta-analysis study.  2022 Gaming 20 NA 21 0.88
TOTAL/AVERAGE 206 1,602 219 0.50
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