The Role of Steps and Game Elements in Gamified Fitness Tracker Apps: A Systematic Review

Abstract

This article reviews 103 gamified fitness tracker apps (Android and iOS) that incorporate step count data into gameplay. Games are labeled with a set of 13 game elements as well as meta-data from the app stores (e.g., avg rating, number of reviews). Network clustering and visualizations are used to identify the relationship between game elements that occur in the same games. A taxonomy of how steps are used as rewards is provided, along with example games. An existing taxonomy of how games use currency is also mapped to step-based games. We show that many games use the triad of Social Influence, Competition, and Challenges, with Social Influence being the most common game element. We also identify holes in the design space, such as games that include a Plot element (e.g., Collaboration and Plot only co-occur in one game). Games that use Real-Life Incentives (e.g., allow you to translate steps into dollars or discounts) were surprisingly common, but relatively simple in their gameplay. We differentiate between task-contingent rewards (including completion-contingent and engagement-contingent) and performance-contingent rewards, illustrating the differences with fitness apps. We also demonstrate the value of treating steps as currency by mapping an existing currency-based taxonomy onto step-based games and providing illustrations of nine different categories.

Positive and Negative Impacts of Gamification on the Fitness Industry

“…In other systematic reviews in the literature, the duties and responsibilities of the designers of gamification applications developed for use in the field of health, which gamification elements are preferred and similar issues have been investigated. In this study, the positive and negative effects of gamification applications on the use of fitness and the suggestions of other researchers on the subject were summarized [ 7 , 8 ].…”

“…Wearable devices, such as smartphones and smartwatches, are able to monitor the health status and motivate individuals to conduct continuous excises. Studies have revealed that despite being aware of the health advantages of using fitness trackers to encourage themselves to stay active, many eventually stop using them [ 6 , 7 ].…”

“…In a systematic literature review by Arora et al, they aimed to summarize the responsibilities of the designers of gamified health practices and various ethical issues [ 17 ]. The systematic review of Neupane et al aimed to examine the pedometer applications systematically [ 7 ]. In the literature, no systematic study has been found on studies examining the positive and negative effects of using gamification applications in the fitness field.…”

Protocol for a randomised controlled field experiment on the effect of different gamification designs of physical activity

“…This was especially important since recent literature [15] suggests that positive effects reported for gamified interventions are considerably higher when compared to inactive control groups (such as individuals on waiting lists), rather than active control groups (where participants utilised a wearable device to track their physical activity or a non-gamified version of the app). In the domain of physical activity, goals are commonly integrated along with several other game elements that leverage social influences, such as competition and challenges [ [31] , [32] ]. Indeed, the three gamified conditions included in this protocol are social-oriented, include several game elements that are commonly adopted in industry practice [18] , and are designed on gamification design frameworks established in literature [ 2 , 17 ].…”

How to shoot yourself right with a smartphone?

“…There is an increasing number of fitness and health apps on the market, and as of the last quarter of 2021, there were estimated to be over 65,000 (Ceci 2022). There have been several reviews of existing mobile fitness apps (Tavares et al 2020;Neupane et al 2021). Tavares et al (2020) reviewed 36 related mobile apps from Google Play, updated between 2017 and 2020, none of which used a smartphone camera to capture the user.…”