Gamification Meets Artificial Intelligence in Mathematics Education: A Review of Personalized Learning and Student Engagement

Abstract

This study presents a Systematic Literature Review (SLR) examining the integration of gamification and Artificial Intelligence (AI) in mathematics education, with a particular focus on personalized learning and student engagement. The review synthesizes scholarly articles published over the last ten years, sourced from reputable databases including Scopus, DOAJ, and Google Scholar. A rigorous selection process was employed to identify relevant empirical and theoretical studies that explore the intersection of AI-driven technologies, gamified learning environments, and key psychological constructs. The findings reveal that the convergence of gamification and AI significantly enhances students’ learning experiences by promoting adaptive, personalized instruction and increasing engagement through interactive and motivational elements. Moreover, the results highlight the central role of psychological variables especially motivation and self-efficacy in mediating the relationship between AI-supported gamified environments and learning outcomes. From an interpretative standpoint, the evidence underscores a socio-cognitive mechanism in which psychological readiness constitutes the principal pathway through which AI exerts its influence on learning processes. Despite these promising outcomes, the review also identifies several limitations within the current body of literature, including a predominance of correlational research designs and an underrepresentation of contextual and longitudinal perspectives. Therefore, future research is recommended to adopt more comprehensive and methodologically robust approaches to better understand the long-term and causal impacts of AI-integrated gamification in mathematics education.