Bibliometric Analysis of Game-Based Mobile Learning in Higher Education: Trends and Gaps

Authors

  • Fahmi Ulum Al Mubarok Universitas Muhammadiyah Surakarta https://orcid.org/0009-0008-0096-6012
  • Annas Fajar Rohmani Universitas Muhammadiyah Surakarta
  • Lutfi Zaki Al Manfaluthi Kolej Universiti Perguruan Ugama Seri Begawan, Brunei Darussalam
  • Muhammad Salman Al Farisi Queen Arwa University

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.56059/jl4d.v12i3.2011

Keywords:

Game-based Learning, Mobile Learning, Bibliometric Analysis, Educational Technology, Innovative Learning Systems

Abstract

This bibliometric analysis provides a comprehensive overview of the research trajectory on “Game-based Mobile Learning” based on Scopus-indexed publications from 2006 to 2024. The study revealed significant growth in scholarly output, peaking in 2023, reflecting the increasing academic and practical interest in integrating game elements with mobile learning technologies. Taiwan led in global contributions, with the United States excelling in cross-country collaborations, highlighting the international appeal and relevance of this research area. The analysis also identified emerging trends, including the rise of keywords such as “Higher Education” since 2020, and three thematic clusters: “Innovative Educational Technologies,” “Games and Technology in Education,” and “Human-Centred Learning.” Periodic fluctuations in publication trends suggested shifts in funding, research priorities, or technology adoption. Despite its notable achievements, the study was limited to Scopus-indexed, English-language journal articles, excluding other indexes, languages, and document types. Future research should focus on underexplored game elements, integration into higher education, and cross-cultural approaches to enhance the field’s effectiveness. These inquiries are critical for advancing global educational innovation and fostering sustainable development in learning technologies.

Author Biographies

Fahmi Ulum Al Mubarok, Universitas Muhammadiyah Surakarta

Fahmi Ulum Al Mubarok is a doctoral student in Islamic Religious Education and a researcher at the Faculty of Islamic Studies, Universitas Muhammadiyah Surakarta (UMS), Indonesia. He also serves as an assistant lecturer, teaching Epistemology of Islam in the Qur’anic and Tafsir Studies Program. He earned his bachelor’s degree from the Department of Dirasah Islamiyah wal Arobiyah at Al-Azhar University, Cairo, and completed his master’s degree in Islamic Religious Education at UMS. His research interests include Islamic education, Islamic epistemology, bibliometric analysis, religious moderation, curriculum and pedagogical innovation, and the transformation of education in the digital era. His works have been published in nationally and internationally indexed journals and presented at academic conferences. Email: o300240006@student.ums.ac.id (https://orcid.org/0009-0008-0096-6012)

Annas Fajar Rohmani, Universitas Muhammadiyah Surakarta

Annas Fajar Rohmani holds a Master’s degree in Islamic Education (MPAI) from Universitas Muhammadiyah Surakarta (UMS). His research focuses on Islamic education, religious values, and the study of religious moderation. His academic publications are available on Google Scholar (https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=NkZsZ1EAAAAJ&hl=id). Email: o100220038@student.ums.ac.id (https://orcid.org/ 0009-0006-0668-8389 )

Lutfi Zaki Al Manfaluthi, Kolej Universiti Perguruan Ugama Seri Begawan, Brunei Darussalam

Lutfi Zaki Al Manfaluthi is currently a Master’s student in Islamic Education at Kolej Universiti Perguruan Ugama Seri Begawan, Brunei Darussalam. His academic interests include Islamic education development, multicultural understanding, and approaches to religious moderation in teaching and learning. Email: 24mdi120005@kupusb.edu.bn

Muhammad Salman Al Farisi, Queen Arwa University

Muhammad Salman Al Farisi is an undergraduate student at the Faculty of Arts and Humanities, Queen Arwa University, Yemen. His areas of interest cover cultural studies, humanities, and the interrelation of arts and education within the context of contemporary Islamic society. Email: salman@qau.edu.ye

Downloads

Published

2025-11-18

How to Cite

Al Mubarok, F. U., Rohmani, A. F., Al Manfaluthi, L. Z., & Al Farisi, M. S. (2025). Bibliometric Analysis of Game-Based Mobile Learning in Higher Education: Trends and Gaps. Journal of Learning for Development, 12(3), 501–518. https://doi.org/10.56059/jl4d.v12i3.2011

Issue

Vol. 12 No. 3 (2025): ISSUE 3

Section

Research Articles

License

Copyright (c) 2025 Fahmi Ulum Al Mubarok, Annas Fajar Rohmani, Lutfi Zaki Al Manfaluthi, Muhammad Salman Al Farisi

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

Authors who publish with this journal agree to the following terms:

    1. Authors retain copyright and grant the journal right of first publication with the work simultaneously licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution License that allows others to share the work with an acknowledgement of the work's authorship and initial publication in this journal.

 

    1. Authors are able to enter into separate, additional contractual arrangements for the non-exclusive distribution of the journal's published version of the work (e.g., post it to an institutional repository or publish it in a book), with an acknowledgement of its initial publication in this journal.

 

  1. Authors are permitted and encouraged to post their work online (e.g., in institutional repositories or on their website) prior to and during the submission process, as it can lead to productive exchanges, as well as earlier and greater citation of published work (See The Effect of Open Access).
Received 2025-04-01
Accepted 2025-09-14
Published 2025-11-18