OOIR: Observatory of International Research

Papers

(The TQCC of JMIR Serious Games is 12. The table below lists those papers that are above that threshold based on CrossRef citation counts [max. 250 papers]. The publications cover those that have been published in the past four years, i.e., from 2021-11-01 to 2025-11-01.)

Article	Citations
The Effects of Serious Games on Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation Training and Education: Systematic Review With Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials	157
Evaluation of a Digitally Guided Self-Rehabilitation Device Coupled With Telerehabilitation Monitoring in Patients With Parkinson Disease (TELEP@RK): Open, Prospective Observational Study	80
A Photography-based, Social Media Walking Intervention Targeting Autonomous Motivations for Physical Activity: Semistructured Interviews With Older Women	58
Advantages of a Training Course for Surgical Planning in Virtual Reality for Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery: Crossover Study	58
Global Scientific Trends in Virtual Reality for Pain Treatment From 2000 to 2022: Bibliometric Analysis	57
The Application of Fully Immersive Virtual Reality on Reminiscence Interventions for Older Adults: Scoping Review	57
Effectiveness of a Web-Based Virtual Simulation to Train Nursing Students in Suicide Risk Assessment: Randomized Controlled Investigation	57
Design of a Game-Based Training Environment to Enhance Mental Health Care Professionals’ Skills in Using e–Mental Health: Multiple Methods User Requirements Analysis	56
Psychometric Properties of the Metacognitions About Online Gaming Scale in the Chinese Population and Its Relationship With Internet Gaming Disorder: Cross-Sectional Study	49
Pressure Ulcer Management Virtual Reality Simulation (PU-VRSim) for Novice Nurses: Mixed Methods Study	47
Using Digital Art and Attachment Priming in a Web-Based Serious Game to Reduce Pain and Social Disconnection in Individuals With Chronic Pain and Loneliness: Randomized Controlled Trial	45
Comparing Learning Outcomes of Machine-Guided Virtual Reality–Based Training With Educator-Guided Training in a Metaverse Environment: Randomized Controlled Trial	44
Enhancing Serious Game Design: Expert-Reviewed, Stakeholder-Centered Framework	44
Examining and Comparing the Energy Expenditure of Two Modes of a Virtual Reality Fitness Game (Supernatural): Indirect Calorimetry Study	43
Interactive Serious Game to Teach Basic Life Support Among Schoolchildren in Brazil: Design and Rationale	42
Use of Serious Games in Interventions of Executive Functions in Neurodiverse Children: Systematic Review	40
Interactive Digital Game for Improving Visual–Perceptual Defects in Children With a Developmental Disability: Randomized Controlled Trial	40
LTP Prod Release Test. (Preprint)	39
Tongue Muscle Training App for Middle-Aged and Older Adults Incorporating Flow-Based Gameplay: Design and Feasibility Pilot Study	37
Acceptability of a Serious Game About Proton Radiotherapy Designed for Children Aged 5 to 14 Years and Its Potential Impact on Perceived Anxiety: Feasibility and Randomized Controlled Pilot Trial	37
Exploring Nursing Students’ Experiences of Empathy and User Experiences in an Immersive Virtual Reality Simulation Game: Cross-Sectional Study	36
Effect of Virtual Reality Technology on Attention and Motor Ability in Children With Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis	35
The Effectiveness of Serious Games in Alleviating Anxiety: Systematic Review and Meta-analysis	33
Comparison of Exergames Versus Conventional Exercises on the Health Benefits of Older Adults: Systematic Review With Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials	33
Using Distance Communication for the User-Centered Development of a Smartphone-Based Serious Game for Children With Type 1 Diabetes: Participatory Design Approach	33

FITLIGHT Training and Its Influence on Visual-Motor Reactions and Dribbling Speed in Female Basketball Players: Prospective Evaluation Study	33
Effects of Balance-Based Exergame Training with Variable Difficulty on Balance and Spatiotemporal Gait Outcomes in Adults with Mild Cognitive Impairment: A Randomized Trial. (Preprint)	32
Smartwatch-Based Tailored Gamification and User Modeling for Motivating Physical Exercise: Experimental Study With the Maximum Difference Scaling Segmentation Method	31
Is the Apple Vision Pro the Ultimate Display? A First Perspective and Survey on Entering the Wonderland of Precision Medicine	30
Pain Assessment Using Virtual Reality Facemask During Bone Marrow Aspiration: Prospective Study Including Propensity-Matched Analysis	29
Virtual Reality Applications for the Implementation of Domestic Respiratory Rehabilitation Programs for Patients With Long COVID and Post-COVID Condition: Scoping Review	29
Impact of Fruit and Vegetable Enzyme Supplementation on Aerobic Performance and Lactate Response in Older Adults Following High-Intensity Interval Exercise Through Exergaming: Randomized Experimental	28
Feasibility and Acceptability of a Mobile Game to Support Smoking Cessation: Repeated Measures Study	28
Enhancing Immersion in Virtual Reality–Based Advanced Life Support Training: Randomized Controlled Trial	28
Author’s Reply: Refining Open-World Game and Nostalgic Film Interventions for Broader and More Reliable Therapeutic Impact	28
Exploring Mixed-Reality Exergames for Sports Rehabilitation: Design Insights and Evaluation Findings	27
Software Engineering Frameworks Used for Serious Games Development in Physical Rehabilitation: Systematic Review	27
Playfulness and New Technologies in Hand Therapy for Children With Cerebral Palsy: Scoping Review	27
Developing Serious Video Games to Treat Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder: Tutorial Guide	27
Evaluation of a New Mobile Virtual Reality Setup to Alter Pain Perception: Pilot Development and Usability Study in Healthy Participants	27
The Development of Game-Based Digital Mental Health Interventions: Bridging the Paradigms of Health Care and Entertainment	27
Serious Games Supporting the Prevention and Treatment of Alcohol and Drug Consumption in Youth: Scoping Review	27
Using the Behaviour Change Wheel Program Planning Model to Design Games for Health: Development Study	27
Correction: Effects of Electronic Serious Games on Older Adults With Alzheimer’s Disease and Mild Cognitive Impairment: Systematic Review With Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials	26
Considering Theory-Based Gamification in the Co-Design and Development of a Virtual Reality Cognitive Remediation Intervention for Depression (bWell-D): Mixed Methods Study	26
Digital Ergonomics of NavegApp, a Novel Serious Game for Spatial Cognition Assessment: Content Validity and Usability Study	26
Effects of The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild and Studio Ghibli Films on Young People’s Sense of Exploration, Calm, Mastery and Skill, Purpose and Meaning, and Overall Happiness in Life: Explorat	25
Impact of the Mobile Game FightHPV on Cervical Cancer Screening Attendance: Retrospective Cohort Study	25
Teaching Students About Plagiarism Using a Serious Game (Plagi-Warfare): Design and Evaluation Study	25
Long-term usage of the gamified breathing training Breeze and its effect on momentary relaxation in people with cancer: A cohort study (Preprint)	25
Electronic Feedback Alone Versus Electronic Feedback Plus in-Person Debriefing for a Serious Game Designed to Teach Novice Anesthesiology Residents to Perform General Anesthesia for Cesarean Delivery:	25
Effectiveness and Utility of Virtual Reality Infection Control Simulation for Children With COVID-19: Quasi-Experimental Study	24
How, for Whom, and in Which Contexts or Conditions Augmented and Virtual Reality Training Works in Upskilling Health Care Workers: Realist Synthesis	24
A New Approach for Reducing Virtual Reality Sickness in Real Time: Design and Validation Study	24
Effects of a Gamified Agent-Based System for Personalized Elderly Care: Pilot Usability Study	24
A Reusable Multiplayer Game for Promoting Active School Transport: Development Study	23
Children and Young People’s Involvement in Designing Applied Games: Scoping Review	23
Visual Attention of Anesthesia Providers in Simulated Anesthesia Emergencies Using Conventional Number-Based and Avatar-Based Patient Monitoring: Prospective Eye-Tracking Study	23
Exploring the Use of a Learning-Based Exergame to Enhance Physical Literacy, Soft Skills, and Academic Learning in School-Age Children: Pilot Interventional Study	23
Testing the Effectiveness of a Gamified Emotional Cognitive Bias Modification Task as an Intervention for Low Mood: Randomized Controlled Trial	22
Health Care Professional–Supported Co-Design of a Mime Therapy–Based Serious Game for Facial Rehabilitation	22
Transformative Gamified Binocular Therapy for Unilateral Amblyopia in Young Children: Pilot Prospective Efficacy and Safety Study	22
Effects of Exergaming on Musculoskeletal Pain in Older Adults: Systematic Review and Meta-analysis	22
Mixed Reality–Based Physical Therapy in Older Adults With Sarcopenia: Preliminary Randomized Controlled Trial	22
An Exploratory Digital Board Game Approach to the Review and Reinforcement of Complex Medical Subjects Like Anatomical Education: Cross-sectional and Mixed Methods Study	21
A Virtual Supermarket Program for the Screening of Mild Cognitive Impairment in Older Adults: Diagnostic Accuracy Study	20
Gamification of Behavior Change: Mathematical Principle and Proof-of-Concept Study	20
Empowering Social Growth Through Virtual Reality–Based Intervention for Children With Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder: 3-Arm Randomized Controlled Trial	20
An Escape Game on University Students’ Mental Health During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Cocreation Study	20
Virtual Reality Applications in Medicine During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Systematic Review	19
Digital Interventions for Stress Among Frontline Health Care Workers: Results From a Pilot Feasibility Cohort Trial	19
Effect of Gamification on Task Engagement During an Eye-Tracking Test Battery in 5-Year-Old Children Born Preterm: Observational Study	19
Design and Evaluation of Using Head-Mounted Virtual Reality for Learning Clinical Procedures: Mixed Methods Study	19
A Software Engineering Framework for Reusable Design of Personalized Serious Games for Health: Development Study	19
Haptic-Driven Serious Card Games for Older Adults: User Preferences Study	18

HelperFriend, a Serious Game for Promoting Healthy Lifestyle Behaviors in Children: Design and Pilot Study	18
A Biofeedback-Based Mobile App With Serious Games for Young Adults With Anxiety in the United Arab Emirates: Development and Usability Study	18
Effect of the “Art Coloring” Online Coloring Game on Subjective Well-Being Increase and Anxiety Reduction During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Development and Evaluation	17
The Effects of Exergaming on Attention in Children With Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder: Randomized Controlled Trial	17
Utilizing Gamification, Artificial Intelligence, and mHealth for the Professional Development of Maternal Care Providers: Exploratory Pilot Cross-Sectional Study Assessing Providers' Satisfaction in P	17
Active Video Games to Improve Behavioral Intentions and Cognitive Function in Patients With Schizophrenia: Randomized Controlled Trial	17
Dissecting Digital Card Games to Yield Digital Biomarkers for the Assessment of Mild Cognitive Impairment: Methodological Approach and Exploratory Study	17
Effectiveness of Using Augmented Reality for Training in the Medical Professions: Meta-analysis	16
The Multidomain Metaverse Cancer Care Digital Platform: Development and Usability Study	16
Age Differences in Flow Experience During Body Movement–Controlled Video Game Rehabilitation Tasks: Cross-Sectional Study	16
Impact of Gamification on Consumers’ Favorability in Cause-Related Marketing Programs: Between-Subjects Experiments	16
Gamification in Mobile Apps for Children With Disabilities: Scoping Review	16
Effect of an Active Video Game Intervention Combined With Multicomponent Exercise for Cardiorespiratory Fitness in Children With Overweight and Obesity: Randomized Controlled Trial	15
Diaphragmatic Breathing Interfaces to Promote Relaxation for Mitigating Insomnia: Pilot Study	15
User Experience of a Semi-Immersive Musical Serious Game to Stimulate Cognitive Functions in Hospitalized Older Patients: Questionnaire Study	15
Older Adults’ Experiences and Perceptions of Immersive Virtual Reality: Systematic Review and Thematic Synthesis	15
Extended Reality–Based Mobile App Solutions for the Therapy of Children With Autism Spectrum Disorders: Systematic Literature Review	15
Feasibility, Enjoyment, and Language Comprehension Impact of a Tablet- and GameFlow-Based Story-Listening Game for Kindergarteners: Methodological and Mixed Methods Study	14
Pulmonary and Physical Virtual Reality Exercises for Patients With Blunt Chest Trauma: Randomized Clinical Trial	14
Domain-Specific Evaluation of Exergame Metrics Among Older Adults With Mild Neurocognitive Disorder: Secondary Analysis of 2 Randomized Controlled Trials	14
A Serious Game for Performing Task-Oriented Cervical Exercises Among Older Adult Patients With Chronic Neck Pain: Development, Suitability, and Crossover Pilot Study	14
Translating and Testing a Digital Game Promoting Vegetable Consumption in Young Children: Usability Study	14
Incorporating an Intelligent Tutoring System Into a Game-Based Auditory Rehabilitation Training for Adult Cochlear Implant Recipients: Algorithm Development and Validation	14
Smartphone-Based Virtual and Augmented Reality Implicit Association Training (VARIAT) for Reducing Implicit Biases Toward Patients Among Health Care Providers: App Development and Pilot Testing	14
Virtual Reality High-Intensity Interval Training Exergaming Compared to Traditional High-Intensity Circuit Training Among Medical Students: Pilot Crossover Study	13
Modification in the Motor Skills of Seniors in Care Homes Using Serious Games and the Impact of COVID-19: Field Study	13
Time to Think “Meta”: A Critical Viewpoint on the Risks and Benefits of Virtual Worlds for Mental Health	13
Digital Gamification Tools to Enhance Vaccine Uptake: Scoping Review	13
Identifying Key Principles and Commonalities in Digital Serious Game Design Frameworks: Scoping Review	13
Using Augmented Reality Toward Improving Social Skills: Scoping Review	13
Virtual Reality Technology in Cognitive Rehabilitation Application: Bibliometric Analysis	13
Points and the Delivery of Gameful Experiences in a Gamified Environment: Framework Development and Case Analysis	13
Correction: Effects of Virtual Reality Therapy for Patients With Breast Cancer During Chemotherapy: Randomized Controlled Trial	13
Refining Open-World Game and Nostalgic Film Interventions for Broader and More Reliable Therapeutic Impact	13
Effectiveness of a 5-Week Virtual Reality Telerehabilitation Program for Children With Duchenne and Becker Muscular Dystrophy: Prospective Quasi-Experimental Study	13
The Impact of Active Augmented Reality Games on Physical Activity and Cognition Among Older Adults: Feasibility Study	13
A Virtual Reality Serious Game for the Rehabilitation of Hand and Finger Function: Iterative Development and Suitability Study	12
The Role of Relevance in Shaping Perceptions of Sleep Hygiene Games Among University Students: Mixed Methods Study	12
Designing a Serious Game (Above Water) for Stigma Reduction Surrounding Mental Health: Semistructured Interview Study With Expert Participants	12
Correction: Effects of Commercial Exergames and Conventional Exercises on Improving Executive Functions in Children and Adolescents: Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials	12
Effect of the Nintendo Ring Fit Adventure Exergame on Running Completion Time and Psychological Factors Among University Students Engaging in Distance Learning During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Randomized	12
Co-design of a Virtual Reality Cognitive Remediation Program for Depression (bWell-D) With Patient End Users and Clinicians: Qualitative Interview Study Among Patients and Clinicians	12
Using a Virtual Reality Tool to Provide Primary Prevention Training in the Construction Field Following a Periodic Medical Visit: Cross-Sectional Study	12