Inclusion and exclusion in gaming communities: a systematic review and future directions to increase inclusivity

Introduction – Gaming engages more than 3.6 billion youth and adults worldwide. Gaming in its current form facilitates rich social exchanges through diverse platforms, transforming how participants communicate, collaborate, and build relationships. Yet despite the theoretical accessibility of gaming spaces to individuals from all backgrounds, gaming communities frequently manifest high rates of exclusionary practices. The high rates of social exclusion undermine gaming’s promise as an inclusive domain, with participants from marginalized groups systematically being held back from full engagement in gaming. Methods – This paper systematically analyzed inclusivity challenges based on findings from 100 articles published over the last thirteen years. Results and Discussion – Our methodical examination of this literature identifies patterns of exclusion operating through representations, community practices, and institutional structures. We also document current inclusivity initiatives undertaken by key stakeholders, including developers, community organizers, and governing bodies, and develop new ones into an integrated framework to minimize exclusivity within gaming cultures. We argue that academic research can play a vital role in this transformation through facilitating cross-sector collaboration, evaluating intervention effectiveness, tracking emerging challenges, gathering participant perspectives, and disseminating practical knowledge. By offering interdisciplinary recommendations, this paper aims to outline a model for more equitable gaming communities that can fulfill their potential as sites of social inclusion.