A bibliometric analysis of global research dynamics and hot frontiers in virtual reality games

In the era of global connectivity, research on the integration of virtual reality technology and gamification has become a hot topic in academia and industry. Based on bibliometric methods, this paper analyses 2,351 relevant articles in Web of Science core databases between 1992 and 2024 using CiteSpace and VOSviewer systems. It explores global research trends and hotspots in the field in terms of publication trends, core authors, national collaborative networks and keyword co-occurrences. The results show that the literature on virtual reality gamification applications is growing rapidly, and the research field is gradually shifting from technology development to diversified application scenarios such as user experience, education and rehabilitation. This paper aims to fill the research gap of a comprehensive interdisciplinary analysis from a global perspective, and provide a comprehensive reference for researchers in related fields.