This article explores the impact of gamification — the integration of game elements into the educational process — on students’ intrinsic motivation. The study employed a mixed-methods quasi-experimental design involving university students from Uzbekistan and Germany. The experimental group studied through a gamified Moodle platform, while the control group used a traditional digital learning environment. The results demonstrated that specific gamification elements, particularly badges, progress bars, and leaderboards, effectively enhanced students’ intrinsic motivation. Furthermore, cultural context (individualistic vs. collectivistic cultures) emerged as a significant moderating factor in this relationship. The paper emphasizes the importance of culturally adaptive gamification design to maximize motivational and learning outcomes in diverse educational environments.

Gamification, intrinsic motivation, cultural context

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