Trends and Patterns in Gamification and Crowdfunding Research: A Bibliometric Study from Scopus

Abstract

This study conducts a rigorous bibliometric analysis to investigate the evolving scholarly discourse at the intersection of gamification and crowdfunding. Drawing on bibliographic data retrieved from the Scopus database as of May 2025, the research identifies and maps trends in publication output, citation impact, and the intellectual structure of the field. Through performance analysis, co-citation networks, keyword co-occurrence, and bibliographic coupling, the study delineates the thematic evolution, dominant contributors (authors, countries, and journals), and key research foci. The findings reveal a significant increase in scholarly interest since 2019, with Finland and India emerging as central contributors. Moreover, the results highlight seven thematic clusters encompassing domains such as donor motivation, trust formation, emotional engagement, disaster response strategies, and branding through gamified crowdfunding in emerging markets. This integrative mapping not only elucidates the current state of knowledge but also offers strategic directions for future interdisciplinary research and practical guidance for digital platform developers and policymakers aiming to enhance participatory finance ecosystems through gamification.