The Impact of Gamification on Vocabulary Acquisition and Long-Term Retention (a Case Study of the Educational Application Lingo Magic)

The article explores the impact of deep gamification on vocabulary acquisition and long-term retention, using the mobile educational application Lingo Magic as a case study. The paper describes the application’s design (14,000 words organized into 382 “scrolls”) and its key learning mechanics: step-by-step memorization in small portions (five words at a time), spaced repetition, built-in exams, and a variety of game modes (kaleidoscope, match-3, puzzle, versus, battle). It demonstrates how the combination of cognitive principles (Ebbinghaus’s forgetting curve, distributed practice, retrieval practice, interleaving) and gamification mechanisms (engaging feedback, reward systems, social connections, and competition) contributes to an increased number of repetitions per word (up to 14), higher motivation, and more frequent interaction with the material. The role of personalization (custom scrolls), progress visualization, and social motivation elements in sustaining long-term engagement is also discussed. The author concludes that when thoughtfully designed, gamification does not replace but rather reinforces learning objectives: it promotes more frequent and varied retrieval of information, thereby enhancing the effectiveness of vocabulary memorization and long-term retention, while also preparing learners for real-world language exams.