Mapping Hot Spots and Global Research Trends in Exergaming Between 1997 and 2024: Bibliometric Analysis

Exergaming, the combination of exercise and gaming, has emerged as an important area in physical activity (PA) research. By leveraging advances in video game technology, exergaming supports both physical and mental health. This growing interest in exergaming has increasingly attracted researchers over the years. Examining the development of exergaming research with a bibliometric approach is thought to offer valuable perspectives to researchers by revealing the trends and main contributions in the field.

This study aims to identify the most researched concepts and topics in the field of exergaming; track the changes of trending topics over the years; identify the most influential journals as well as the authors who have contributed the most to the field; identify groundbreaking studies and neglected topics that shape future work; and reveal the countries, institutions, and collaborations that have contributed the most to the field. It also aims to identify research gaps in the field of exergaming and provide important recommendations for future research.

A bibliometric analysis covering studies between 1997 and 2024 was conducted using the Web of Science database. The R-based Bibliometrix package and the Biblioshiny web interface were used for data analysis and visualization. The analysis included original research papers and reviews. These analyses provided insights into research trends, citation metrics, and thematic developments.

A total of 1626 studies were analyzed, and the results indicated a steep rise in exergaming research since 2015, peaking in the years 2020-2021. Major high-impact journals publishing in this area include Games for Health Journal and International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. Researchers who have contributed significantly and enriched the knowledge base of the exergaming field included Gao Zan, Eling de Bruin, and Zeng Nan. The most cited studies were classified into 2 different clusters, namely, cluster 1 that focuses on the concepts of PA, exercise, energy expenditure, and children, while cluster 2 focuses on rehabilitation, balance, adults, and aging. Medicine, information technology, and intention are some of the emerging themes. From a research productivity perspective, there is an undisputed front-runner, the United States, but substantial contributions have definitely come from either the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology or the Karolinska Institute.

Despite significant growth in exergaming research over the last decade, research gaps remain, particularly in understanding how exergaming can be effectively integrated into long-term PA promotion and broader health outcomes. These gaps were identified by the absence or low representation of relevant keywords (eg, "cost-effectiveness," "community-based intervention," and "long-term health outcomes") in thematic mapping and keyword trend analyses and limited citation density in these areas. Future work should explore these issues more systematically to advance the field.