Gamification means points, levels, feedback, and goals layered onto an activity. Systematic reviews in education find mixed-but-mostly-positive effects when game elements are aligned with learning goals—see Dicheva et al.’s mapping study in Educational Psychology Review (DOI:10.1007/s10648-013-9214-0). The APA Monitor also summarizes how incentives can help or hurt motivation depending on design.
Applied to books
For reading, XP and leagues can make progress visible—similar to how step counters help walkers. Libriv uses XP, leagues, and streaks so effort shows up in numbers, not just in your head.
Try Libriv: Home · Google Play