Gamified Learning for Community Revitalization: The Case of Ishinomaki City’s Local Revitalization RPG

This study examines the impact of a Local Revitalization RPG in Ishinomaki City, Japan, as a tool for enhancing regional attachment, cultural awareness, and educational engagement among university students. Following the devastating Great East Japan Earthquake of 2011, Ishinomaki has sought innovative strategies to foster recovery and preserve cultural heritage. The RPG integrates local narratives, historical landmarks, and interactive gameplay to create an immersive learning experience that bridges cultural and geographic divides. Participants from two universities played the game, and their subjective attachment, panoramic attachment, sustainable attachment, and knowledge about Ishinomaki were measured using a 5-point Likert scale. Results reveal significant improvements across all metrics, with gameplay emerging as the primary driver of change, regardless of geographical proximity to Ishinomaki. These findings underscore the transformative potential of gamification in education and community development. The study contributes to the broader discourse on using gamified tools for cultural preservation, tourism promotion, and sustainable regional development, offering a replicable framework for other regions worldwide.