What are the most successful gamification genres and how can you develop them?

1 Educational Games

Educational games are games that aim to teach or reinforce specific skills, knowledge, or attitudes. They can be used in formal or informal settings, for children or adults, and for various subjects and domains. Educational games can be effective if they balance challenge, feedback, and fun, and if they align with the learning objectives and outcomes. Some examples of educational games are Duolingo, which teaches languages, DragonBox, which teaches math, and Foldit, which teaches protein folding.

2 Health Games

Health games are games that aim to improve or maintain physical or mental health. They can be used for prevention, diagnosis, treatment, or recovery, and for various health conditions and goals. Health games can be effective if they provide realistic and personalized feedback, support self-efficacy and autonomy, and foster social support and accountability. Some examples of health games are Zombies, Run!, which motivates running, SuperBetter, which helps with resilience and well-being, and MindLight, which reduces anxiety.

3 Marketing Games

Marketing games are games that aim to promote a brand, product, or service. They can be used for awareness, loyalty, conversion, or retention, and for various target audiences and markets. Marketing games can be effective if they offer value, relevance, and choice to the players, and if they create positive associations and emotions with the brand. Some examples of marketing games are Nike+ Run Club, which rewards running with Nike products, M&M's Eye-Spy Pretzel, which creates a viral challenge with M&M's candies, and McDonald's Monopoly, which incentivizes purchases with prizes.

4 Social Impact Games

Social impact games are games that aim to raise awareness, change attitudes, or inspire action on social or environmental issues. They can be used for advocacy, education, or empowerment, and for various causes and communities. Social impact games can be effective if they provide compelling narratives, meaningful choices, and realistic consequences, and if they connect players with real-world actions and resources. Some examples of social impact games are Darfur is Dying, which simulates the plight of refugees in Sudan, Half the Sky Movement, which supports women's empowerment around the world, and EcoChains, which teaches about climate change and marine ecosystems.

5 How to Develop Gamification Genres

To develop any gamification genre, you need to follow some general steps and principles. First, you need to define your goals, audience, and context. What do you want to achieve with gamification, who are your players, and where and how will they play? Second, you need to design your game elements and mechanics. What are the rules, rewards, challenges, feedback, and interactions that will make your game engaging and effective? Third, you need to test and iterate your game. How can you measure the impact and satisfaction of your game, and how can you improve it based on feedback and data? Finally, you need to launch and maintain your game. How can you market and distribute your game, and how can you update and support it over time?