While studies of contextualized game-based language learning (CGBLL) have to date gained a growing scholarly interest, there is still a lack of systematic review synthesizing its research trends regarding theoretical foundations, learning contexts, research foci and findings. To address the gap, this study collected data from the Web of Science…

Background: While game-based language learning (GBLL) in K-12 education has received considerable attention, little is still known about its state-of-the-art research trends over the last decade, necessitating a systematic review on its theoretical frameworks, instructional activities and research findings. Objectives: To fill the gap, drawing on…