Digital game-based learning supports long-term retention of second-language vocabulary¶

Claim · All claims
Evidence · 1 study · quant-synthesis r2 · q2
Currency · newest study 2025 · checked against its sources 2026-10-20 (automated, 1 of 1 entry) · not reviewed by a person

Subclaims¶

q2 i? A meta-analysis by Tsai and Liu (2018), as reported by this review, found digital games effective for SLV acquisition with positive long-term retention effects. → A. Pradheepa 2025

Evidence¶

A. Pradheepa 2025¶

A. Pradheepa, K. Gurusamy & T. Pushpanathan. (2025). The role of language games in enhancing vocabulary acquisition: A meta-analysis. Australian Journal of Applied Linguistics, 8(1). https://doi.org/10.29140/ajal.v8n1.2073

q2 · i? · quant-synthesis · r2

The review attributes this to Tsai and Liu (2018), reporting that learners using gamified tools showed improved retention compared with counterparts using conventional approaches; no effect size is printed in the text provided.

"A meta-analysis by Tsai and Liu (2018) found that digital games are very effective for Second Language Vocabulary (SLV) acquisition and their long-term retention has positive effects"

Discussion¶

Learner Variables¶

• Long-Term Memory — outcome: instruction changes it
• Vocabulary — outcome: instruction changes it

Related Claims¶

• The review reports that students learning with serious games often perform better on content knowledge assessments than those in traditional settings — the general claim this finding bears on, with the studies behind it
• Game design, not learner age or linguistic background, determines DGBL effectiveness; adventure games outperform non-adventure games — related
• Adventure video games with supplementary vocabulary material outperform control conditions on receptive and productive vocabulary tests — related
• Task-essentialness and productive use of new words in goal-directed activity may positively affect vocabulary learning and retention — related
• Incidental vocabulary gains show retention problems, with losses over time moderated by feedback timing and topic interest — reports the opposite
• Practice defined as meaningful language use plus effortful practice of difficult features is beneficial and even essential for second language acquisition — related
• Captioning second-language videos produces large benefits for comprehension and vocabulary acquisition — related
• Extramural English gaming relates to better L2 proficiency, but effects vary by activity type and strategy — related
• Grades themselves, regardless of formula, detrimentally affect creative thinking, long-term retention, interest in learning, and preference for challenging tasks — related