Instructional design talks to game design

Purpose This paper aims to identify successful game strategies that are used in digital video games and match those strategies to practices that may be incorporated in instructional design to gamify the learning experience. Design/methodology/approach The identification of successful strategies is based on literature explaining gamification and game strategies. Examples and suggestions of gamification are included from scholars, business leaders and actual practices. Findings The successful game strategies identified can be transferred into the learning environment without the inclusion of video games. Strategies identified support learner competence, relatedness and autonomy and encourage instructional designers or instructors to examine game play, realize how play can be used to provide more meaningful experiences to learners and rethink assessments. Originality/value The identified game elements are supported by motivation theory. These identifications offer instructional designers a list of game elements from which they may refer when designing in the future.