An Integrative Review of Empathy, Attitude Change, and Historical Consciousness in Games: Mapping Gaps and Opportunities in Game-Based Digital Heritage Research

Researchers over the past 20 years have steered their attention towards examining whether video games have the potential to positively affect behavioral/emotional traits in players, recognizing their potential to offer not only enjoyable, but also meaningful experiences. Insight from studies has informed video game design, to achieve diverse outcomes, e.g., building empathy, shaping attitudes, raising awareness, or impacting how players (re)appreciate history. Utilizing the integrative review instrument, we examine the literature on video games as empathy/attitude change stimulants, alongside the methodological approaches, tools, evaluation studies, and outcomes comprising the current state of evidence. Through this process, we formulate future research directions, which (a) overview the interdisciplinary priorities of researchers in the aforementioned topics, (b) highlight their key insights/perspectives, (c) outline their methodological approaches, and (d) summarize the discussions, challenges, and outlook on future work toward realizing video games as digital spaces of conscience that foster empathy, critical reflection, and collective remembrance.