Gamified Immersive Learning and User Experience Evaluation of Metaverse-Based Cultural Heritage Education

The growing intersection of immersive technologies and cultural heritage presents an unprecedented opportunity to transform users' engagement with history and art. This research is motivated by the need to improve cultural experiences through the virtual recreation of historical sites. It employs a multi-user virtual reality (VR) environment with gamified elements to create more engaging, interactive, and educational platforms within the metaverse. This work focuses on Saudi Arabia's World Heritage Site to develop a virtual replica of Jabal Al-Ahmar using image processing and 3D modeling to ensure accuracy and authenticity in reconstructing its architectural and cultural elements. Through virtual recreation, users engage with these sites by unlocking interactive features and completing tasks that promote active learning and engagement with historical narratives. A subjective test with 46 participants compared experiences in both VR and non-VR conditions. User experience (UX) and sense of presence were evaluated using the User Experience Questionnaire (UEQ) and the Igroup Presence Questionnaire (IPQ). UEQ results showed that VR significantly outperformed non-VR in Stimulation and Novelty, while non-VR achieved higher Perspicuity scores. IPQ results revealed that VR participants reported a stronger sense of presence, higher involvement, and greater perceived realism compared to non-VR participants. Overall, the study demonstrates the potential of metaverse-based cultural heritage applications to combine education, preservation, and user-centered design for more impactful cultural experiences.