From the frontline to the podium: How our Summer Games engaged 1.8M users

Summer and sports go hand in hand. Whether it’s a friendly beach volleyball match or a backyard cornhole competition, there’s something about the season that makes us all want to get in on the action. 

This year, we embraced that spirit by turning up the heat with the 2024 Axonify Summer Games.

Earlier this year, we asked our community which sports-themed games they wanted most, and they delivered their votes loud and clear. The result? A thrilling lineup of new mini-games—Archery, Pole Vaulting, Hurdles, Kayaking, Javelin and Discus Throw—that had learners across industries diving into the fun.

The Summer Games rolled out over the course of a month, giving frontline workers the chance to compete—but it isn’t just about having fun. These games entertained while also boosting engagement with learning content.

1.8 million total players

Axonify’s Summer Games saw massive participation. In just 10 days, 1.6 million users dove into our new lineup of mini-games and the number jumped to 1.8 million within a month. 

The high level of engagement proves that a little friendly competition goes a long way in boosting platform activity.

Players were captivated by trying to hit the bullseye in Archery, racing against the clock to jump over obstacles and launching their virtual poles with precision. We didn’t just introduce new games—we motivated our customers with weekly tasks. Each week, we sent out challenges for admins to engage their learners and gave them the chance to win exclusive prizes. 

Whether introducing the latest game, highlighting summer policies or promoting a new business update, our customers faced the challenges head-on and kept the summer spirit alive.

How gameplay turned into a win for our customers

Our community didn’t just play—they thrived! Customers shared that their teams loved the new games and activating them helped ramp up engagement while adding a little fun to the workday.

Kassandra Kiritsis from Longo’s said her teams were all in. “We love the Summer Games and launched them as well as Kick Off and Golf to the platform. Archery is our favorite new mini-game! It is both challenging and fun,” she said.

Adrian Tam from Heinen’s chimed in with his plans to take the competition up a notch: “We’re excited about the new games and plan to award reward points to associates who achieve top scores on Summer Games, Kickoff and Golf.” 

Hurdles was another top pick among the mini-games. Joe Brightman from Members 1st added: “Our games are loaded, and we are loving the button-smashing new hurdles game.”

This level of engagement isn’t just a stroke of luck—it’s the result of combining the intrinsic motivation of play with the learning process.

The power of play: why games work in learning 

Gamification isn’t new, but the idea of playing a game unrelated to the learning content is perhaps unexpected.

Research has proven and our customers confirmed that casual gameplay drives engagement and creates a positive learning environment.

🧠 Related reading: Why top industry leaders are using gamification in training

Games provide a break from the routine, offering a moment of fun that can significantly improve the learning experience. When users engage in something enjoyable, they’re more likely to return to the platform, completing more training and retaining information better. 

Games also tap into people’s competitive spirits, sparking friendly rivalries and pushing learners to achieve their best. Whether it’s beating their own high score or outpacing a colleague, this sense of competition enhances motivation and drives consistent engagement.