A Systematic Mapping of the Use of Games for Teaching Programming
Resumo
The integration of digital games in programming education is an approach aimed at overcoming challenges such as high dropout rates and learning difficulties in this subject. This systematic mapping examines digital games applied to programming learning through the analysis of 19 selected studies from a total of 1143. The results highlight that digital games not only significantly increase student engagement, but also improve their understanding of fundamental programming concepts. Games offer a playful and interactive form of learning, enabling a more engaging and effective educational experience. This study contributes to the field of technology education by demonstrating how digital games can be effectively used to teach programming, suggesting a potential reduction in dropout rates and an improvement in the quality of learning in technical and engineering courses. The review also identifies a significant gap in the literature on the potential disadvantages of using games in educational environments, highlighting the need for future research in this area.
Palavras-chave:
Games, Teaching, Programming
Referências
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O. Karram, “The role of computer games in teaching object-oriented programming in high schools – codecombat as a game approach,” WSEAS Transactions on Advances in Engineering Education, vol. 18, pp. 37–45, 2021.
S. Leutenegger and J. Edgington, “A games first approach to teaching introductory programming,” in Proceedings of the 35th SIGCSE Technical Symposium on Computer Science Education, 2004.
A. Giannakoulas and S. Xinogalos, “Studying the effects of educational games on cultivating computational thinking skills to primary school students: a systematic literature review,” Journal of Computers in Education, vol. 11, no. 4, pp. 1283–1325, 2024.
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Z. Zhan, Y. Tong, X. Lan, and B. Zhong, “A systematic literature review of game-based learning in Artificial Intelligence education,” Interactive Learning Environments, vol. 32, no. 3, pp. 1137–1158, 2024.
L. Sun, Z. Guo, and L. Hu, “Educational games promote the development of students’ computational thinking: a meta-analytic review,” Interactive Learning Environments, vol. 31, no. 6, pp. 3476–3490, 2021.
A. P. Siddaway, A. Wood, and L. Hedges, “How to do a systematic review: A best practice guide for conducting and reporting narrative reviews, meta-analyses, and meta-syntheses.” Annual review of psychology, vol. 70, pp. 747–770, 2019.
M. Page, J. McKenzie, P. Bossuyt, I. Boutron, T. Hoffmann, C. Mulrow, L. Shamseer, J. Tetzlaff, E. Akl, S. Brennan, R. Chou, J. M. Glanville, J. Grimshaw, A. Hrõbjartsson, M. Lalu, T. Li, E. Loder, E. Mayo-Wilson, S. McDonald, L. McGuinness, L. Stewart, J. Thomas, A. Tricco, V. Welch, P. Whiting, and D. Moher, “The prisma 2020 statement: An updated guideline for reporting systematic reviews.” Journal of clinical epidemiology, 2021.
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W. Feng and L. Davis-Wallace, “Parallel Programming with Pictures: Choosing Your Own Adventure,” in 2023 IEEE International Parallel and Distributed Processing Symposium Workshops (IPDPSW). St. Petersburg, FL, USA: IEEE, May 2023, pp. 256–261. [Online]. Available: [link]
M. Wynn and D. Bouchard, “Hello code: An active programming video game,” European Conference on Games Based Learning, 2018.
I. Perenc, T. Jaworski, and P. Duch, “Teaching programming using dedicated Arduino Educational Board,” Computer Applications in Engineering Education, vol. 27, no. 4, pp. 943–954, Jul. 2019. [Online]. Available: [link]
M. Aedo Lopez and E. G. Castro Gutierrez, “Teaching Model of Object Oriented Programming based on Video Game Development and applying Software Project Management and Scrum,” in Proceedings of the 20th LACCEI International Multi-Conference for Engineering, Education and Technology: “Education, Research and Leadership in Post-pandemic Engineering: Resilient, Inclusive and Sustainable Actions”. Latin American and Caribbean Consortium of Engineering Institutions, 2022. [Online]. Available: [link]
M. A. López, V. Cornejo-Aparicio, and S. Flores-Silva, “Experience in the application of a geolocated video game to understand the fundamental concepts of the object oriented programming paradigm; [experiencia en la aplicación de un videojuego geolocalizado para comprender los conceptos fundamentales del paradigma de la programación orientada a objetos],” RISTI - Revista Iberica de Sistemas e Tecnologias de Informacao, vol. 2021, no. E46, p. 452 – 462, 2021, cited by: 0. [Online]. Available: [link]
D. Sleeman, “The challenges of teaching computer programming,” Commun. ACM, vol. 29, pp. 840–841, 1986.
M. Fojcik, M. Fojcik, S.-O. Høyland, and J. Hoem, “Challenges in teaching programming,” Education and New Developments 2022 – Volume I, 2022.
M. Zapuˇsek and J. Rugelj, “Learning programming with serious games,” EAI Endorsed Transactions on Game Based Learning, vol. 13, no. 1, pp. 1–8, 2013.
C. Malliarakis, S. Xinogalos, and M. Satratzemi, “Educational games for teaching computer programming,” in Research on E-Learning and ICT in Education: Technological, Pedagogical and Instructional Perspectives. Springer, 2012.
O. Karram, “The role of computer games in teaching object-oriented programming in high schools – codecombat as a game approach,” WSEAS Transactions on Advances in Engineering Education, vol. 18, pp. 37–45, 2021.
S. Leutenegger and J. Edgington, “A games first approach to teaching introductory programming,” in Proceedings of the 35th SIGCSE Technical Symposium on Computer Science Education, 2004.
A. Giannakoulas and S. Xinogalos, “Studying the effects of educational games on cultivating computational thinking skills to primary school students: a systematic literature review,” Journal of Computers in Education, vol. 11, no. 4, pp. 1283–1325, 2024.
Z. Zhan, L. He, Y. Tong, X. Liang, S. Guo, and X. Lan, “The effectiveness of gamification in programming education: Evidence from a metaanalysis,” Computers and Education: Artificial Intelligence, vol. 3, p. 100096, 2022.
Z. Zhan, Y. Tong, X. Lan, and B. Zhong, “A systematic literature review of game-based learning in Artificial Intelligence education,” Interactive Learning Environments, vol. 32, no. 3, pp. 1137–1158, 2024.
L. Sun, Z. Guo, and L. Hu, “Educational games promote the development of students’ computational thinking: a meta-analytic review,” Interactive Learning Environments, vol. 31, no. 6, pp. 3476–3490, 2021.
A. P. Siddaway, A. Wood, and L. Hedges, “How to do a systematic review: A best practice guide for conducting and reporting narrative reviews, meta-analyses, and meta-syntheses.” Annual review of psychology, vol. 70, pp. 747–770, 2019.
M. Page, J. McKenzie, P. Bossuyt, I. Boutron, T. Hoffmann, C. Mulrow, L. Shamseer, J. Tetzlaff, E. Akl, S. Brennan, R. Chou, J. M. Glanville, J. Grimshaw, A. Hrõbjartsson, M. Lalu, T. Li, E. Loder, E. Mayo-Wilson, S. McDonald, L. McGuinness, L. Stewart, J. Thomas, A. Tricco, V. Welch, P. Whiting, and D. Moher, “The prisma 2020 statement: An updated guideline for reporting systematic reviews.” Journal of clinical epidemiology, 2021.
A. Carrera-Rivera, W. Ochoa, F. Larrinaga, and G. Lasa, “How-to conduct a systematic literature review: A quick guide for computer science research,” MethodsX, vol. 9, p. 101895, 2022. [Online]. Available: [link]
A. Basawapatna, A. Repenning, M. Savignano, J. Manera, N. Escherle, and L. Repenning, “Is drawing video game characters in an hour of code activity a waste of time?” in Proceedings of the 23rd Annual ACM Conference on Innovation and Technology in Computer Science Education. Larnaca Cyprus: ACM, Jul. 2018, pp. 93–98. [Online]. Available: [link]
A. Alam, “A Digital Game based Learning Approach for Effective Curriculum Transaction for Teaching-Learning of Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning,” in 2022 International Conference on Sustainable Computing and Data Communication Systems (ICSCDS). Erode, India: IEEE, Apr. 2022, pp. 69–74. [Online]. Available: [link]
R. Law, “Introducing novice programmers to functions and recursion using computer games,” in Proceedings of the 12th European Conference on Game Based Learning. Sophia Antipolis: Academic Conferences and Publishing International Limited, 2018, pp. 325–334.
K. Daungcharone, “Effects of blending digital games into traditional lecture-based learning on university students’ programming learning achievement,” in Effects of blending digital games into traditional lecture-based learning on university students’ programming learning achievement, O. R., B. M., and M. B., Eds., vol. 2019-November. Academic Conferences Limited, 2019, Conference paper, p. 151 – 159, cited by: 1. [Online]. Available: [link]
M. M. Ariffin, N. M. Aszemi, and M. S. Mazlan, “CodeToProtect©: C++ Programming Language Video Game for Teaching Higher Education Learners,” Journal of Physics: Conference Series, vol. 1874, no. 1, p. 012064, May 2021. [Online]. Available: [link]
R. Higashi, E. Harpstead, J. Solyst, J. Kemper, J. Odili Uchidiuno, and J. Hammer, “The Design of Co-Robotic Games for Computer Science Education,” in Extended Abstracts of the 2021 Annual Symposium on Computer-Human Interaction in Play. Virtual Event Austria: ACM, Oct. 2021, pp. 111–116. [Online]. Available: [link]
P. Mozelius, R. Pechuel, B. Fernández Manjón, T. Kreuzberg, N. Humble, and L. Sällvin, “Development of an Enjoyable Educational Game on Fundamental Programming: Designing for Inclusion and Learning Analytics,” European Conference on Games Based Learning, vol. 17, no. 1, pp. 434–442, Sep. 2023. [Online]. Available: [link]
D. Saito, R. Tian, H. Washizaki, and Y. Fukazawa, “Programming Education for Young People using the Falling-Puzzle Game, “Puyo Puyo”,” in 2023 IEEE Global Engineering Education Conference (EDUCON). Kuwait, Kuwait: IEEE, May 2023, pp. 1–5. [Online]. Available: [link]
A. Sirinterlikci, J. Mativo, and J. Pham, “Using Nintendo Switch Development Environment to Teach Computer Game Programming and Virtual Reality,” in 2020 ASEE Virtual Annual Conference Content Access Proceedings. Virtual On line: ASEE Conferences, Jun. 2020, p. 35467. [Online]. Available: [link]
M. Tomaiuolo, G. Angiani, A. Ferrari, M. Mordonini, and A. Poggi, “A Week of Playing with Code, the Object-Oriented Way,” in Methodologies and Intelligent Systems for Technology Enhanced Learning, 8th International Conference, T. Di Mascio, P. Vittorini, R. Gennari, F. De La Prieta, S. Rodríguez, M. Temperini, R. Azambuja Silveira, E. Popescu, and L. Lancia, Eds. Cham: Springer International Publishing, 2019, vol. 804, pp. 62–69, series Title: Advances in Intelligent Systems and Computing. [Online]. Available: [link] 8
W. Feng and L. Davis-Wallace, “Parallel Programming with Pictures: Choosing Your Own Adventure,” in 2023 IEEE International Parallel and Distributed Processing Symposium Workshops (IPDPSW). St. Petersburg, FL, USA: IEEE, May 2023, pp. 256–261. [Online]. Available: [link]
M. Wynn and D. Bouchard, “Hello code: An active programming video game,” European Conference on Games Based Learning, 2018.
I. Perenc, T. Jaworski, and P. Duch, “Teaching programming using dedicated Arduino Educational Board,” Computer Applications in Engineering Education, vol. 27, no. 4, pp. 943–954, Jul. 2019. [Online]. Available: [link]
M. Aedo Lopez and E. G. Castro Gutierrez, “Teaching Model of Object Oriented Programming based on Video Game Development and applying Software Project Management and Scrum,” in Proceedings of the 20th LACCEI International Multi-Conference for Engineering, Education and Technology: “Education, Research and Leadership in Post-pandemic Engineering: Resilient, Inclusive and Sustainable Actions”. Latin American and Caribbean Consortium of Engineering Institutions, 2022. [Online]. Available: [link]
M. A. López, V. Cornejo-Aparicio, and S. Flores-Silva, “Experience in the application of a geolocated video game to understand the fundamental concepts of the object oriented programming paradigm; [experiencia en la aplicación de un videojuego geolocalizado para comprender los conceptos fundamentales del paradigma de la programación orientada a objetos],” RISTI - Revista Iberica de Sistemas e Tecnologias de Informacao, vol. 2021, no. E46, p. 452 – 462, 2021, cited by: 0. [Online]. Available: [link]
Publicado
22/10/2025
Como Citar
LIMA, Maurício; FERREIRA, Deller; DIAS, Elisângela Silva.
A Systematic Mapping of the Use of Games for Teaching Programming. In: CONGRESSO LATINO-AMERICANO DE SOFTWARE LIVRE E TECNOLOGIAS ABERTAS (LATINOWARE), 22. , 2025, Foz do Iguaçu/PR.
Anais [...].
Porto Alegre: Sociedade Brasileira de Computação,
2025
.
p. 19-25.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.5753/latinoware.2025.14246.
