Gamification in mobile-assisted language learning: a systematic review of Duolingo literature from public release of 2012 to early 2020

More than 300 million people use the gamified mobile-assisted language learning (MALL) application (app) Duolingo. The challenging tasks, reward incentives, systematic levels, and ranking of users according to their achievements are just some elements that demonstrate strong gamification within this popular application. This application’s pervasive reach, flexible functionality, freemium business model has brought significant attention in MALL. present review aims summarize different methods, frameworks, settings, research samples used assess Duolingo’s design impact on various outcomes. We carried out a complete database search for articles focused issues design, application, pedagogies Three hundred sixty-seven records were initially found, 35 those selected final inclusion based choice, theoretical sampling, data collection, analyses (see Appendix 1 full list). results indicated majority from 2012-2020 was design-focused, quantitative nature, non-probability sampling methods. focus app marks an emphasis creation tools rather process outcomes using these tools. Additional revealed preferences performance-based questions, English as choice research, USA most prominent context Duolingo studies. Furthermore, our highlights gaps specific Duolingo, yet generalizable other MALL applications. useful researchers seeking assess, evaluate, understand MALL, gamification, well practitioners interested utilizing formal informal environments.