Evaluating Multiplayer Game-Based Training for Earthquake Evacuation: A Systematic Review

Abstract

Earthquakes are the most devastating natural disasters, causing extensive loss of life and damage. Traditional methods, such as drills and instructional materials, focus on individual preparedness, overlooking group dynamics that shape real-world evacuations. In crowded settings like schools and hospitals, peer influence, leadership and collective decision-making significantly impact evacuation outcomes. Game-based learning offers an interactive approach to disaster preparedness, yet most serious games rely on single-player training or AI-driven simulations where non-player characters (NPCs) attempt to mimic human behavior. These models often fail to capture real-time social interactions, limiting their effectiveness in preparing individuals for group evacuations. This creates a critical research gap, as there is limited understanding of how multiplayer game-based training can improve collaborative decision-making and evacuation efficiency. This study conducts a systematic literature review using SCOPUS and Web of Science databases to examine the relationship between multiplayer game-based training and earthquake evacuation preparedness. The review aims to identify key findings, highlight existing research gaps and explore the role of multiplayer interaction in improving evacuation efficiency and adaptive decision-making. While previous studies have primarily focused on individual-centered evacuation training, few have examined the real-time impact of multiplayer interactions on group evacuation behavior and decision-making dynamics. Additionally, the influence of social factors—such as peer interactions, leadership roles and collective decision-making—on evacuation performance remains largely underexplored. Furthermore, the potential of multiplayer serious games to enhance engagement, situational awareness and collaborative problem-solving has received limited attention in existing research. Future studies should prioritize empirical investigations into the effectiveness of multiplayer serious games in enhancing group coordination, role differentiation and social influence during evacuations. Moreover, integrating multiplayer game-based training into official disaster preparedness programs could provide a more dynamic, interactive and socially realistic approach to emergency response education.