Work

AI-driven game design: the EMPAMOS gamification framework

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: The successful implementation of gamification requires a comprehensive understanding of game design elements, yet existing compilations often lack empirical rigor. Also, while the interplay of individual elements has been considered relevant, there is a lack of methods for combining them. One of the challenges in systematically extracting game design elements is the lack of access to computer game source code. Instead, game design elements are mostly compiled based on subjective experience or literature research. In order to overcome this obstacle, this article uses board game manuals as a new approach. It presents an artificial intelligence (AI)-based analysis of 8,300 board game manuals, identifying 97 detailed game design elements and their interactions as game design molecules. These findings form the EMPAMOS framework, offering precise descriptions of elements and combinations for gamification and game design. Its relevance is demonstrated through a survey and case studies in social work, museum exhibitions, and higher education, showcasing its innovative and practical applicability. The EMPAMOS framework serves as a systematic guideline for gamification and game design in research and practice.

Source: PeerJ Computer Science

DOI: 10.7717/peerj-cs.3633

Authors: Thomas Voit, Athanasios Mazarakis, Paula Bräuer

Institutions: Georg Simon Ohm University of Applied Sciences Nuremberg, Christian-Albrechts-Universität zu Kiel

Language: English

Topic: Educational Games and Gamification

Subfield: Developmental and Educational Psychology

Field: Psychology

Domain: Social Sciences

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $1,395

Funder: Bundesministerium für Bildung und Forschung