Enhancing Player Game Interaction Frameworks for Intangible Cultural Heritage Games: A Systematic Literature Review

This systematic review compiles the research findings within 10 years (2015 to 2026) on the player–game interaction frameworks for intangible cultural heritage games, highlighting the common problems that have been investigated in the field of Player Game Interaction (PGI) for Intangible Cultural Heritage (ICH) games. The review focuses on classifying current interaction methods and design frameworks. It evaluates embodied and gestural approaches and compares the use of immersive technologies, such as virtual reality, augmented reality, mixed reality, and artificial intelligence. The review also identifies evidence-based strategies for cultural adaptation and compares user experience outcomes for different implementations. In accordance with PRISMA 2020 guidelines, 50 studies were selected and peer-reviewed before analysis by thematic coding, chronological comparison, and critical synthesis. The results indicate that when directly connected to the embodied movement and meaning of the underlying cultural practice, embodying always leads to better knowledge retention and emotional connection by users. While immersive technologies can have a positive effect in making heritage more accessible and increasing a sense of presence, this is dependent on the culturally sensitive design of the technologies, which cannot be superficial in nature. Maintaining authenticity and the reflection of lived experiences and values of members of the living community is essential and can be achieved by participatory co-design with heritage practitioners and community members. Schemes that are good at embedding meaningful cultural content with fun and enjoyment produce better long-term engagement and learning. This review aims to synthesise existing knowledge, reveal the problems that are still to be solved in the field, and offer guidelines on how to create inclusive, culturally congruent intangible cultural heritage games, which can be used as effective tools for preservation, education, and intergenerational transmission.

Intangible Cultural Heritage Games; Player Game Interaction Frameworks; Embodied Interaction; Cultural Authenticity; Immersive Technologies

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