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Gameful Green: A Systematic Review on the Use of Serious Computer Games and Gamified Mobile Apps to Foster Pro-Environmental Information, Attitudes and Behaviors

Author

Listed:
  • Ștefan Boncu

    (Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences, Alexandru Ioan Cuza University of Iași, 700506 Iași, Romania)

  • Octav-Sorin Candel

    (Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences, Alexandru Ioan Cuza University of Iași, 700506 Iași, Romania)

  • Nicoleta Laura Popa

    (Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences, Alexandru Ioan Cuza University of Iași, 700506 Iași, Romania)

Abstract

As the issues related to climate change intensify, new methods to raise awareness of environmental issues, foster pro-environmental attitudes and behaviors, and offer a viable alternative to traditional environmental education are needed. In recent years, various computer games and mobile apps targeting sustainability-related information, attitude, and behaviors have been developed. In this systematic review, we aimed to verify which pro-environmental information, attitudes, and behaviors are targeted by serious games and gamified apps, how their efficiency is tested, and the main results. A total of 29 studies were included in the analysis. The results show that serious games and apps were used to decrease energy consumption, water spending, and food consumption, and increase sustainable mobility. Furthermore, technology was used to offer pro-environmental education regarding a myriad of issues. Most interventions were successful and some of them did have significant effects while others provided only short-term changes. The limitations of the current approaches are discussed together with some future expansions that can help develop more efficiency in this domain.

Suggested Citation

  • Ștefan Boncu & Octav-Sorin Candel & Nicoleta Laura Popa, 2022. "Gameful Green: A Systematic Review on the Use of Serious Computer Games and Gamified Mobile Apps to Foster Pro-Environmental Information, Attitudes and Behaviors," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(16), pages 1-22, August.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:14:y:2022:i:16:p:10400-:d:894193
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Zihan Feng, 2024. "How Game Ecology Drives Player Choices in Strategy Video Games: An Environmental Determinism Perspective," Simulation & Gaming, , vol. 55(2), pages 342-357, April.
    2. Dubois, Emmanuel & Farolfi, Stefano & Hafkamp-Ibanez, Lisette & Roussel, Sébastien, 2025. "Environmental edutainment games and pro-environmental behavior of primary school students: Evidence from a field experiment," Journal of Behavioral and Experimental Economics (formerly The Journal of Socio-Economics), Elsevier, vol. 119(C).
    3. Weng Marc Lim & Manish Das & Wamika Sharma & Aastha Verma & Rajeev Kumra, 2025. "Gamification for sustainable consumption: A state‐of‐the‐art overview and future agenda," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 34(1), pages 1510-1549, January.
    4. Leon, Anja Köbrich & Schobin, Janosch, 2026. "Boosting peer influence for the climate? – Intervening friendship networks with serious games to promote food knowledge and reduce meat consumption," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 240(C).
    5. Elena Shliakhovchuk & Micaela Martin & Miguel Chover & Viktor Danchuk, 2026. "A Longitudinal Study of Video Games’ Influence on Climate Change Concerns, Climate Refugee Awareness, and Environmental Behaviour Activism," Simulation & Gaming, , vol. 57(1), pages 32-56, February.
    6. Lan, Xiaomeng & Song, Baobao, 2025. "The more, the merrier? Investigating the distinct and interaction effects of gamification mechanics in corporate sustainability engagement," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 199(C).
    7. Sukanya Sereenonchai & Noppol Arunrat, 2025. "A Serious Game to Promote Water–Energy–Land–Food–People (WELFP) Nexus Perception and Encourage Pro-Environmental and Pro-Social Urban Agriculture," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 17(9), pages 1-18, May.

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