Learning effects and acceptance in business games: A systematic literature review

Although business games are widely used in schools, universities, and further education, the data on their effects is unclear. Therefore, in a systematic literature review, this paper examines 137 publications from 2010 to 2020 on the influencing factors and effects of simulation games. One major finding is that participant learning is strongly related to motivation, satisfaction with the simulation and especially the realism of the game. Whether business games are accepted as a learning method also depends on the realism, the group in the game, and the acquisition of competencies through the game. This paper concludes by describing the design implications and a future research agenda.