[2023] The Ultimate Guide to the Different Types of Gamification: Explained by Gamification Engineers

Gamification has been disrupting industries and transforming the way businesses operate. As gamification engineers, we have seen the tremendous power and potential of gamification in engaging, motivating, and influencing people’s behavior. Gamification has become a ubiquitous trend and a powerful tool, but with so many types of gamification available, it can be overwhelming to choose the right one. That’s why we created this ultimate guide to help you understand the different types of gamification available, and which ones are suitable for your needs.

How Gamification Works in Different Markets

Gamification is a versatile strategy that can be used in any industry or market. The core principle of gamification is to use game mechanics, design, and psychology to influence behavior, making it easier, more fun, and more engaging to complete tasks, learn new skills, or reach a goal.

Gamification works by tapping into people’s intrinsic motivation, using the eight core drives of gamification, to make them want to do something. These eight core drives are:

1. Epic Meaning & Calling
2. Development & Accomplishment
3. Empowerment of Creativity & Feedback
4. Ownership & Possession
5. Social Influence & Relatedness
6. Scarcity & Impatience
7. Unpredictability & Curiosity
8. Loss & Avoidance

By understanding these eight core drives, gamification engineers can design game mechanics and strategies that tap into the players’ intrinsic motivation and create a rewarding and engaging experience.

What are Some Examples of Markets That Have Applied Gamification Effectively?

• Education: gamification is used to motivate students to learn better and make the learning experience more engaging and fun. For example, Duolingo helps people learn a language by using gamified elements and progress tracking.
• Healthcare: gamification is used to make patients more engaged and motivated in their treatment and to help them manage their health better. For example, Fitbit has been successful in motivating people to stay active and maintain their fitness by using game-like tracking.
• Marketing: gamification is used to increase engagement and customer loyalty. For example, Starbucks launched a loyalty program that rewards customers with points that can be redeemed for free drinks and food.

What are the Most Common Types of Gamification?

There are several types of gamification, each with unique game mechanics and design. When selecting a gamification type, you need to understand your goals, target audience, and the behavior you want to influence. Here are the most common types of gamification:

1. Points, Badges, and Leaderboards (PBL)

PBL is the most well-known and oldest type of gamification. It’s a simple and effective way to motivate people, using three game mechanics: points, badges, and leaderboards. Points represent progress, badges represent achievements, and leaderboards represent competition. PBL is commonly used in loyalty programs, education, and fitness apps.

2. Quests and Challenges

Quests and challenges are types of gamification that encourage people to achieve specific goals or complete tasks. They involve setting up a series of challenges that players need to complete to earn rewards. Quests and challenges are commonly used in education, productivity apps, and employee training.

3. Virtual Economies

Virtual economies are types of gamification that involve creating a virtual world or environment where players can earn, spend, or trade virtual currency. Virtual economies are used in loyalty programs, gaming, and e-commerce platforms.

4. Social Gamification

Social gamification involves adding game mechanics to social interactions, making them more engaging and fun. Social gamification is used in social media platforms, dating apps, and online communities.

5. Game-Based Learning

Game-based learning involves using games to teach new skills, knowledge, or behaviors. Game-based learning is used in education, employee training, and personal development.

5 Great Examples of Business Gamification

Gamification has been proven to be effective in driving business results, increasing employee engagement, and boosting customer loyalty. Here are some great examples of business gamification:

1. McDonald’s Monopoly Game

McDonald’s Monopoly game is a classic example of how gamification can be used to drive business results. The game involves collecting stickers on food packaging to win prizes and redeem rewards. The game has been running since 1987 and has been successful in increasing sales and customer loyalty.

2. IBM’s Innov8

IBM’s Innov8 is a game that simulates a business environment to teach new skills, improve decision-making, and optimize business processes. The game has been used in employee training and development, and has been successful in improving skills and productivity.

3. Nike+

Nike+ is a fitness app that uses gamification to motivate people to stay active and achieve their fitness goals. The app allows users to track their activity, connect with friends, and earn rewards for reaching milestones.

4. Salesforce’s Trailhead

Salesforce’s Trailhead is a gamified learning platform that teaches users how to use Salesforce’s products. The platform uses quests, badges, and points to motivate users to learn new skills and become experts in using Salesforce.

5. Duolingo

Duolingo is a language learning app that uses gamification to make learning a language more engaging and fun. The app uses game mechanics, such as leveling up, progress tracking, and streaks, to motivate users to learn a new language.

The Pros and Cons of Gamification

Gamification is a powerful tool, but it’s not suitable for every situation. Here are some pros and cons of gamification:

Pros

• Increases engagement and motivation
• Makes learning and progress more fun and rewarding
• Encourages new behaviors and habits
• Increases customer loyalty and retention
• Improves productivity and performance

Cons

• Can be easy to overuse, leading to burnout
• Can be irrelevant or distracting if not implemented well
• Can be expensive and time-consuming to design and implement
• Can be difficult to measure the ROI of gamification
• Can be difficult to sustain long-term engagement

What are the Three Categories of Gamification?

Gamification can be categorized into three different categories:

1. Conversion

Conversion gamification is used to drive business results, such as increased sales, customer loyalty, or employee productivity. It’s designed to achieve a specific business goal by using game mechanics and design.

2. Education

Education gamification is used to teach new skills, knowledge, or behaviors, making the learning experience more engaging and fun. It’s designed to improve learning outcomes and retention.

3. Personal Development

Personal development gamification is used to help individuals improve their habits, motivation, and self-awareness. It’s designed to help individuals reach their personal goals and improve their well-being.

What are the Four Elements of Gamification?

Gamification involves four essential elements that work together to create a game-like experience:

1. Game Mechanics

Game mechanics are the building blocks of gamification. They are the rules, interactions, feedback, and systems that make up the game.

2. Aesthetics

Aesthetics are the visuals, sounds, and storytelling that create the game’s experience. Aesthetics are essential to creating a memorable and engaging game.

3. Technology

Technology is the underlying infrastructure that makes gamification possible. It’s the platform, software, and hardware that enable game mechanics and aesthetics to work.

4. Psychology

Psychology is the science of understanding human behavior and motivation. Psychology is essential to gamification, as it provides insights into how to make game mechanics more engaging and motivating.

What are the 8 Core Drives of Gamification?

As mentioned earlier, the eight core drives of gamification are:

1. Epic Meaning & Calling
2. Development & Accomplishment
3. Empowerment of Creativity & Feedback
4. Ownership & Possession
5. Social Influence & Relatedness
6. Scarcity & Impatience
7. Unpredictability & Curiosity
8. Loss & Avoidance

Each of these core drives is essential to designing effective and engaging game mechanics that tap into people’s intrinsic motivation.

Quick Tips and Facts

• Gamification can increase engagement by up to 48%.
• Companies that use gamification have experienced a 47% increase in user retention.
• Gamification can help companies save up to $11,000 per employee per year by increasing productivity and engagement.
• The global gamification market is projected to reach $37 billion by 2024.

FAQ

What are the three categories of gamification?

The three categories of gamification are conversion, education, and personal development.

What are the four elements of gamification?

The four elements of gamification are game mechanics, aesthetics, technology, and psychology.

What are the 8 core drives of gamification?

The 8 core drives of gamification are epic meaning & calling, development & accomplishment, empowerment of creativity & feedback, ownership & possession, social influence & relatedness, scarcity & impatience, unpredictability & curiosity, and loss & avoidance.

What are some best practices for creating effective gamification?

Some best practices for creating effective gamification are:

• Understanding your target audience and their behavior
• Setting clear and measurable goals
• Using game mechanics that tap into intrinsic motivation
• Creating a memorable and engaging experience
• Providing feedback and recognition
• Testing and iterating on the design to improve effectiveness.

Conclusion

Gamification is a powerful and versatile strategy that can be used in any industry or market. By understanding the different types of gamification available, the four essential elements of gamification, and the eight core drives of gamification, you can design effective and engaging game mechanics that tap into people’s intrinsic motivation. Whether you’re looking to drive business results, improve learning outcomes, or help individuals reach their personal goals, gamification can help you get there faster and with more fun. As gamification engineers, we have seen the transformational power of gamification, and we recommend it to any business or individual looking to achieve more in life.