36 Real-World Examples Of Gamification In eCommerce (Ones That Actually Drive Sales)

Remember Willy Wonka’s Golden Ticket? The perfect example of how gamification can send sales through the roof. 🙂

And it’s not fiction! 

Research shows gamified retail keeps people hooked. About 62.5% of shoppers aged 16–30 admitted that game-like features actually make them buy more.

The catch, however? Most eCommerce brands go way overboard with it.

That’s why we’re walking you through 36 examples of gamification in eCommerce – ranging from the not-so-obvious examples to extremely easy-to-implement ones. 

We’ll start with a few you definitely didn’t see coming, and end with the usual suspects:

1. SourceBMX gamifies bike shopping into bike building

2. Rumpl’s customization gamification feels personal

3. Liquid Death takes auction gamification to the next level

4. Charlotte Tilbury builds an immersive playground

5. Coach makes sustainability collectible with digital tokens

6. Rimmel London lets shoppers play to win

7. Exponent Skincare runs trials with challenge gamification

8. Morphe’s Augmented Reality (AR) gamification acts like a skincare genie

9. Uniqlo builds trust with size-finder gamification

10. Selkirk’s AI-powered live chat gamification leads to discovery

11. Lalo shapes brand decisions with vote gamification

12. Cult Beauty runs an innovative ‘donate to unlock’ gamification

13. Last Crumb makes bundle building feel like a game

14. E.L.F.’s loyalty program gamification keeps shoppers coming back

15. Nuun Hydration post-purchase gamification lets shoppers earn for runs

16. GNC nails spin the wheel gamification

17. REP Fitness uses an unusual progress bar gamification

18. Retrospec asks the right question with lead capture gamification

19. Gibbon USA solves doubt quickly with quiz gamification

20. Nomadix lets shoppers ‘play’ with the image

21. Oru Kayak surprises shoppers with gift gamification

22. Lowe’s runs the clock on ‘Deal of the day’ gamification

23. Dr. Barbara Sturm makes buying easier with ‘checkout gamification’

24. Ergatta teases with mystery gamification

25. Burrow gamifies product configurations

26. Quaker Chewy hides messages in their social media gamification

27. Hers runs a visual profile builder quiz gamification

28. Canvaspop asks to scroll with teaser email gamification

29. Crocs makes livestreams feel like real-time game shows

30. Pure Life turns giveaways into a treasure hunt

31. We are Knitters drops ‘Golden Tickets’

32. La Jolie Muse guarantees rewards with gift card gamification

33. Ulta Beauty gamifies winback for inactive shoppers

34. Astrid & Miyu run a seasonal gamification sequence

35. Five CBD makes referral gamification feel personal

36. Coogi Australia nails review/UGC gamification

But first…..

How does gamification work in eCommerce?

Gamification is just psychology with a sense of control (and rewards).

People love that feeling of progress: earning points, unlocking perks, or seeing their name climb a leaderboard. It’s not the prize alone, it’s also that sense of achievement that comes rushing.

Gamification in eCommerce revolves around two levers:

- intrinsic motivators (belonging, curiosity, self-improvement)

- extrinsic ones (rewards, discounts, access)

In many ways, it’s similar to what Accenture calls immersive retail, like letting shoppers:

- explore 3D product models

- build personalized makeup palettes

- join virtual fashion shows

The goal? Pull shoppers closer to the product without forcing the sale.

And it’s clearly working. A study found that gamified interactions strengthen both brand reputation and repurchase intent. 

But what helps create a truly immersive gamified experience in eCommerce?

Here’s what drives it all:

• The Hook: What gets users interested in the first place, like curiosity, recognition, or a sense of competition
• The Effort: How much do you ask of shoppers, for example, a spin, a tap, a quiz, a share
• The Play: How is the game played, the rules, levels, streaks, badges, and leaderboards
• The Payoff: The “why” behind the effort, like rewards, bragging rights, or just the fun of winning

Here are some great examples that achieve perfect harmony 👇

36 Gamification Examples in eCommerce That Actually Drive Sales

1. SourceBMX gamifies bike shopping into bike building

Why make shoppers explore 30 add-ons for one purchase when they can do the exact same thing, but in a game (instead of a list)?

Take SourceBMX’s bike builder, for example – it feels like a game; shoppers can add accessories, and truly make it their own (creating gamification-driven personalization):

How you can apply this gamification idea on your eCommerce store:

• Offer ready-made variants to shorten the decision path and create a great starting point instead of a blank slate
• Allow shoppers to interact freely with their build and see it evolve
• Add a sense of progress (“Step 3 of 5: Choose your wheels”) to make it feel guided
• And give them an easy way to share their build – people love showing off what they’ve made

Also read: 38 Brilliant Examples of eCommerce Personalization

2. Rumpl’s customization gamification feels personal

If you don’t want a full-scale product builder, you can take a book out of Rumpl’s gamification example and let shoppers customize the product by adding their name or message. 

Note how the interface looks like a form, with an AI-created visualization to show a real-time display of the customization:

How you can apply this gamification idea on your eCommerce store:

• You can create a form on your product page, and generate leads (so you can lock in the design in a new tab and then send it via email)
• This way, you don’t have to worry too much about image generation in real time; you just have to ensure you have a good enough generative AI API linked to your store’s CMS

3. Liquid Death takes auction gamification to the next level

This gamification example takes a book out of eBay’s legendary bid system (the best possible form of gamification there is on eCommerce stores).

However, what sets this example apart is the exclusivity of the auction, because the product is just one of a kind (and by this, we mean, only one was ever produced). As a result, the winning bid after 810 bids was $68,200 (that’s what hype combined with gamification will do):

How you can apply this gamification idea on your eCommerce store:

• Use this for limited edition pre-orders. Emphasize the number of stock and intentionally send to more people than the number of stock (do factor in your conversion rate here). The goal is to create a hype so people register, and are clear on the fact that the product may sell fast. 

Also read: Lessons From 6 Kickass Pre-Order Campaigns (eCommerce)

4. Charlotte Tilbury builds an immersive playground

This gamification idea may be a bit hard to achieve, but it is an awesome way to keep shoppers engaged. 

Charlotte Tilbury creates a virtual store to celebrate their custom collection in honor of 100 years of Disney. The USP here? Shoppers can not only engage with the virtual store to view products, but they can also invite friends and family as well and chat with digital avatars:

What to remember before applying this gamification idea:

• Use this gamification strategy as a method to get word of mouth about your store’s experience. The whole idea is to ramp up the no. of shoppers who feel compelled to share this unique experience, without the promise of a reward

5. Coach makes sustainability collectible with digital tokens

We’ve all heard of cloud storage. But what if it could also hold your Coach handbag? 🙂

Coachtopia (Coach’s customer experience program) gamifies their sustainability initiatives and also makes shoppers feel confident of the value of their purchase, because they can literally see how one of a kind it is, within their cell phones:

How you can apply this gamification idea on your eCommerce store:

• Let shoppers scan or register their product to unlock something, like a digital badge, an extended warranty, or a “made just for you” tag
• Or, add a “scan to reveal” QR code on packaging to tie to a sustainability initiative, like how to recycle packages and collect points

6. Rimmel London lets shoppers play to win

Gamification starts with ‘game’ – Rimmel London lets shoppers spend some time catching makeup products.

Why: they’ve a limited-time daily contest for winning a bundle of products – all shoppers have to do is play a game:

How you can apply this gamification idea on your eCommerce store:

• Always reward participation, even if it’s just loyalty points or a small discount – no one likes to play and lose
• Ensure you change instructions per the device used, as Rimmel London does:

Also read: 50 Proven Online Promotion Ideas For eCommerce

7. Exponent Skincare runs trials with challenge gamification

The reward of all challenges is mostly a ‘feel-good’ factor and social acceptance. However, the question remains: can you actually replicate this gamification technique on your eCommerce store, while getting shoppers to pay?

As it turns out, you can! Take this gamification example from Exponent Skincare – note how they frame a ‘try before you buy’ and ‘refund guarantee’ to create a ‘challenge’ environment:

How you can apply this gamification idea on your eCommerce store:

• Do send emails to check in on a shopper’s progress (like daily tips, check-ins, preferably gamified)
• Ensure your landing page reflects your core promise – check how this landing page shows a crisp description and CTAs tailored to the ‘Try before you buy’ goal:

Also read: Preventing Buyer's Remorse: How eComm Stores Can Curb Post-Purchase Anxiety

8. Morphe’s Augmented Reality (AR) gamification acts like a skincare genie

Quizzes can take too much of an investment (in terms of time) on the shopper’s end. 

What Morphe does is: use AR to detect and ‘scan’ a shopper’s skin and offer a real-time analysis. Just like a genie. This way, they not only create an immersive experience, but also help shoppers feel more attached to the product:

How you can apply this gamification idea on your eCommerce store:

• Build your own AR filters on TikTok or in Meta (Spark AR studio can help here) – whether that’s makeup on their face, décor in their room, or shoes on their feet
• And cross-promote: add a “Try it in your space” button/QR code on your product pages and emails, so shoppers can launch the AR view (no matter the device they’re on)

9. Uniqlo builds trust with size-finder gamification

We’ve already seen quizzes in lead captures, guided selling – this one is all about building confidence in the purchasing process.

Research shows that when people enjoy the buying process, they feel more certain about what they bought. Uniqlo puts this into practice with their ‘MySize Assist’ size recommendation quiz. Note how the rich images show the fit:

What to remember before applying this gamification idea:

• Keep the quiz short; 3 to 5 questions max (preferably on one screen)
• Use visual cues like sliders instead of text questions to make the process feel interactive
• And show a little reward at the end, like a “Perfect Match Found” screen

Also read: 30 Ways to Build Trust FAST (On Your eCommerce Store)

10. Selkirk’s AI-powered live chat gamification leads to discovery

This gamification example is actually a bit hard to achieve, but still doable, if you’ve an AI-powered chatbot trained on your product catalog.

Selkirk’s Paddle Assistant is like ChatGPT, but for pickleball – all users have to do is pick from choices, and that’s about it:

What to remember before applying this gamification idea:

• Add micro-confirmations – think: messages like “Nice pick!” or “Level unlocked” – these can make the chat feel more human and alive

Also read: Using AI to Improve eCommerce Product Discovery: 9 Neat Ideas

11. Lalo shapes brand decisions with vote gamification 

This gamification example from Lalo proves how gamification can not only help deepen the relationship between shoppers and your brand but also drive retention. 

This email from Lalo is one from their campaigns (one where they ask shoppers to submit their own designs). In this one, they ask shoppers to vote on these designs. 

The incentive for voters? A chance to win a $500 gift card. For participants? A chance to become a Lalo Product, free merch, sales percentages, and a matching donation. What this does is: it not only deepens the connection between the community, but also creates an unspoken investment in the product (which’ll ensure future sales):

What to remember before applying this gamification idea:

• Voting works best when it actually shapes something real, like a new color, limited drop, or even packaging
• Keep the reward small but meaningful. Early access or store credit feels better than a random coupon
• And always close the loop. Announce the winner and thank everyone who voted (creates a community effect)

Also read: 19 Customer Retention Strategies that Actually Work (for eCommerce)

12. Cult Beauty runs an innovative ‘donate to unlock’ gamification

When you lock a solid deal behind a ‘feel-good’ factor like a donation, you may just end up creating a ‘cult’ like gamification, like Cult Beauty does. 

Puns apart, this is exactly how you can tie cause marketing to gamification. What Cult Beauty does is set a minimum donation of 5 Euros to unlock a flat 20% off a shopper’s next order:

What to remember before applying this gamification idea:

• Keep the donation small and clear. People shouldn’t have to think twice
• Make the reward instant, so the discount unlocks the second they donate
• And always tie it to a cause that actually makes sense for your brand

Also read: How To Increase eCommerce Sales: 35 Proven Ideas

13. Last Crumb makes bundle building feel like a game

If you run subscriptions, this is THE gamification example to get inspired from. This also applies if you’ve non-converting shoppers who’ve been visiting your site multiple times, but just aren’t buying.

Last Crumb offers their shoppers the option to order just to their liking. They can choose from two sizes, subscription intervals (or one-time delivery), and create just about any combination of cookies (this helps create a trial-like experience):

What to remember before applying this gamification idea:

• Let shoppers mix and match freely. The more control they have, the longer they stay
• Show the bundle taking shape as they add items (like Last Crumb does in the add to cart bar – note how the cookie selected replaces the numbers within the bar)
• And don’t forget the payoff – show the final “You built this” bundle before checkout (you can even make do with a confetti animation, or a visual of a package)

Also read: 15 Product Bundling Examples That Convert (& 9 Proven Ideas)

14. E.L.F.’s loyalty program gamification keeps shoppers coming back

Most eCommerce brands run loyalty programs, but none as good as e.l.f. 

The reason: they gamify their entire loyalty program – here’s what they do:

• Offer tiers with different perks, based on points shoppers accrue over their buying journey with e.l.f.
• Enable shoppers to accrue points by completing multiple activities (like buying from different retailers, or even playing games, to trying samples)
• Keep rewards that shoppers would actually dig (birthday gifts, Venmo gift cards, etc.)

What to remember before applying this gamification idea:

• You can reward a mix of behaviors, not just spending or engagement. Actions like leaving reviews, quiz completions, or sharing on social media could count too

Also read: 14 eCommerce Loyalty Programs Backed By Science (Examples)

15. Nuun Hydration post-purchase gamification lets shoppers earn for runs

What if there were a way you could ensure shoppers use your products the way you intended them to be used?

Take a cue from how Nuun Hydration ensures its post-purchase experience involves a form of gamification, which would ensure loyal shoppers keep repurchasing. 

All they do: offer points for every Strava registration, and for every activity and workout logged on the app 💡:

How you can apply this gamification idea on your eCommerce store:

• Keep shoppers updated on their points' status. For example, you can send monthly recap SMS/emails like “You’ve earned X points this month”
• And maybe also, let ‘em unlock badges, streaks, to keep the momentum alive between purchases

Also read: Deliver An Amazing Post Purchase Experience: 17 Ideas (& Examples)

16. GNC nails spin the wheel gamification

The OG eCommerce gamification technique. Shoppers spin a roulette wheel, they win (usually a discount or free gift), and you get their email or number in return.

It works best as an exit-intent pop-up, like GNC does, when shoppers ignore the welcome offer and start to leave:

What to remember before applying this gamification idea:

• Keep the spin animation under 6 seconds (‘cause the average attention span’s around 8)
• Trigger it once per shopper, reserve it, ideally for exit intent or lapsed customers 
• Limit both the number of tries and the total discount winnable, so it doesn’t drain the margin 
• If you apply this sitewide, rotate the rewards daily, so it stays fresh

P.S. Scratch cards and casino-style roller pop-ups have almost the same effect as this gamification example.

17. REP Fitness uses an unusual progress bar gamification

Progress bars work because our brains hate unfinished tasks.

When shoppers see they’re $7 away from free shipping or a free product, they’re far more likely to toss in that extra candle or keychain (which helps increase the AOV).

Here’s how REP Fitness does it: they float a bar on the cart page, with multiple tiers. A 10% discount is the final milestone, but free products are easier to unlock early:

What to remember before applying this gamification idea:

• Always show the exact amount left to achieve the next milestone (“You’re $7 away from free shipping”)
• Keep rewards achievable. Setting the target too high may make shoppers quit halfway
• You can switch up rewards on offer (low AOV customers would like free shipping more than a 10% discount)

Also read: Top 29 Cart Page Designs For 2025 (Examples)

18. Retrospec asks the right question with lead capture gamification

Adding a little friction helps. Especially when it helps improve the shopping experience (plus, the discount, of course).

Here’s how Retrospec gamifies their pop-up: they ask for a shopper’s preference for other offers that they might be interested in. 

This makes the lead capture feel more like a quiz than a form:

What to remember before applying this gamification idea:

• Use this gamification tactic if your signup rate is flat or your pop-ups get ignored
• Preferably keep it two-step (don’t go asking for a phone number, after you get their email)
• Ask the right questions, like discount preference or reasons for abandonment

Also read: Cart Abandonment Pop-Up: 19 Amazing Examples (That Actually Work)

19. Gibbon USA solves doubt quickly with quiz gamification 

If people are dropping off your product pages or not moving from your homepage to the product page, this is the gamification technique to use.

Gibbon USA preloads a comparison table on its product page, along with a ‘1-minute quiz’ to help shoppers figure out which board will be right for them. Note how they mention the time limit to not only help lower the cognitive load but also make it feel low investment:

What to remember before applying this gamification idea:

• Keep it under 6 questions (so it doesn’t feel like they’re doing an interview)
• Show a progress bar, so shoppers know how close they are to the result
• If you have a quiz on your product page, feature it near the end, where unsure shoppers tend to pause or hover

💡 Convertcart Pro Tip

You can create a swipe ‘yay’ or ‘nay’ (like Tinder) to gamify product discovery quizzes. You can apply this same principle to swipeable product cards in category pages. 

20. Nomadix lets shoppers ‘play’ with the image

We already know our brains hate not knowing stuff. The same principle can be applied when shoppers see images with hotspots, which they click on to reveal product features.

This is exactly what Nomadix does to show product features on a tappable image. This keeps it interactive, quick, and way more memorable than a long block of text:

What to remember before applying this gamification idea:

• Use immersive experiences like 3D images or 360-degree images to provide rich experiences
• Don’t show too many hotspots, or else, it may feel cluttered (or worse, ignored)
• Make sure every reveal adds real value (avoid fluff, that feels vague, like “Made with care”)

Also read: 37 Insanely Creative Ways eCommerce Brands Use Images

21. Oru Kayak surprises shoppers with gift gamification

Everyone loves a surprise, especially when it’s free.
This is exactly why Oru Kayak’s automatically added free gift creates the perfect gamification – all a shopper has to do is open the product page (which makes it feel like the discovery of a lifetime):

What to remember before applying this gamification idea:

• Make sure the free gift is unmissable – for example, you can make shoppers choose a size (it's a bit of added friction, but it works)
• Swap out the gift every few weeks; this way, repeat visitors stay curious and re-engaged

Also read: 30 underutilized strategies for increasing customer lifetime value in eCommerce

22. Lowe’s runs the clock on ‘Deal of the day’ gamification

This gamification technique is especially useful if you’re trying to drive daily visits (and build a habit). 

Just like Lowe’s does – by creating a ‘deals of the day’ page and putting select categories and product ranges on deep discounts (which not only helps clear out stock but also creates urgency-driven curiosity):

How you can apply this gamification idea on your eCommerce store:

• Run flash deals; keep them visible and time-bound (this applies to the same principle)
• Do a ‘Free only for today’ - and this ‘free’ can be a gift wrap or free shipping as well (this makes shoppers feel like they’ve discovered something)
• Tease tomorrow’s deal in your emails – which not only creates a quick cliffhanger, but helps maintain the loop – say something like “Tomorrow’s offer unlocks at 9 AM” 

Also read: 20 Powerful FOMO Marketing Ideas for eCommerce

23. Dr. Barbara Sturm makes buying easier with ‘checkout gamification’

What if you could combine progress bar gamification with the surprise free gift technique?

This is exactly what Dr. Barbara Sturm does on their order summary page, by asking users to select a complimentary gift when shoppers have reached an order value threshold:

How you can apply this gamification idea on your eCommerce store:

• When a free gift gets added, show a quick “Unlocked!” or a small confetti animation before the thank-you page. This way, you serve a confirmation as well as close the gamification loop, like the shopper cleared the final level

Also read: 35 Stunning Examples of Checkout Pages

24. Ergatta teases with mystery gamification

If spin-to-win gamification seems too hard to achieve, this is the easiest (yet extremely effective) bypass.

All you have to do is tease exclusivity, like Ergatta does in this exit intent pop-up, by offering shoppers their own ‘secret offer’:

How you can apply this gamification idea on your eCommerce store:

• If you offer a mystery bundle or box, tease the value of the bundle (“Worth over $50!”)
• Or, what may be in the box (this way, shoppers have enough incentive to actually click through)

25. Burrow gamifies product configurations

Or you can make it even simpler: make choosing variants feel like a game.

This is exactly what Burrow does. While their modular furniture itself feels like a game, note how each product variant configuration looks like a schematic in a game, which unlocks a product only when shoppers click on ‘em (the FAQs are the cherry on top):

What to remember before applying this gamification idea:

• Show the change right away so shoppers stay curious and keep tweaking *any delay here can affect conversions*

26. Quaker Chewy hides messages in their social media gamification

The easiest example of gamification: get shoppers to engage with your posts.
Take this simple Instagram post from Quaker Chewy – note how they ask their followers to look at a certain area in the image, and then ultimately lead to a part of the creative, where they announce their ‘secret’ Halloween giveaway:

How you can apply this gamification idea on your eCommerce store:

• Use platform features to hide or unlock messages – like making shoppers speed up a Reel to reveal hidden messages in the sped up audio
• Run quick “spot it” or “guess it” challenges in carousels; they’re cheap to make and reward curiosity

27. Hers runs a visual profile builder quiz gamification

Quizzes as a gamification element in eCommerce stores aren’t just about creating segments; they’re also about creating a guided selling experience. 

Hers for Women’s Health nails this by turning quizzes into a full-onboarding experience. Shoppers answer a few questions, get personalized recommendations, and build a profile they’ll keep coming back to:

How you can apply this gamification idea on your eCommerce store:

• Ensure you offer the option to shoppers where they get the results first, and then ask them to save their recommendations
• Keep it short and outcome-driven (“Here’s what suits you best,” not “Here’s what we sell”)
• And if you can, connect it to badges like ‘all quiz star’ – the idea is to reward for every quiz completion

Also read: The Best Quiz Funnel Examples for your eCommerce Store

28. Canvaspop asks to scroll with teaser email gamification

This is yet another really simple gamification example: all you have to do is just ensure your copy game is strong enough to make shoppers scroll.

To show you how effective this email gamification strategy is, we aren’t gonna tell you how Canvaspop gamifies their email. You have to scroll to find out 🙂

What to remember before applying this gamification idea:

• Don’t add too many conflicting elements (note how Canvaspop only offers a coupon code and an opportunity to win a $200 gift card on leaving a review)

Also read: 15 Top Examples of eCommerce Teaser Emails (+ Templates)

29. Crocs makes livestreams feel like real-time game shows

The exclusivity of a livestream is enough to bring it into the list of gamification examples in eCommerce. 

Extremely simple to set up, you can use livestreams to drop limited edition products and even create giveaways. This is exactly what Crocs does by teasing that if their livestream gets 10 more orders, they will drop an exclusive discount code for livestream viewers:

How you can apply this gamification idea on your eCommerce store:

• Set clear, real-time goals (“If we hit 50 orders, the next 10 get a freebie”). It keeps people watching and rooting together 🙂

30. Pure Life turns giveaways into a treasure hunt

Giveaways are games themselves, but they don’t have to be extremely complicated. 

You can create a simple 3-month-long lottery system, like Pure Life does, to offer three different tiers of prizes, with the ultimate Grand Prize being a trip to Disneyland, with round-trip airfare, $1000 in gift cards, and more:

What to remember before applying this gamification idea:

• Ensure your product packages announce the giveaway as well
• Do ensure you run this giveaway gamification campaign for a long period of time
• Create a hunt-like experience – like on socials, secret product codes on your store, and emails:

31. We are Knitters drops ‘Golden Tickets’

We couldn’t resist using this gamification example. After all, it’s a ‘golden ticket’ on offer.

We are Knitters, pick orders at random to deliver a mystery offer and a ‘golden ticket’, and encourage shoppers to place an order, so they can win too:

How you can apply this gamification idea on your eCommerce store:

• Slip a random surprise into select orders, like a free product, refund, or upgrade
• You can also run this for highly limited stocks of collectible products that were on pre-orders (or sold out) – the rarity is what sells it

32. La Jolie Muse guarantees rewards with gift card gamification

Got a segment of purchasers who just aren’t leaving a review?

Use this gamification example from La Jolie Muse as inspiration. Note how they offer a guaranteed gift card of $10, and a chance to win a year of fragrance as first place:

What to remember before applying this gamification idea:

• Use a guaranteed low-effort reward to drive action (that’s what gets volume) and pair it with a rare, high-value prize (that’s what gets word-of-mouth)
• And always make the guaranteed win feel instant – way better than “we’ll email you later with the results”

33. Ulta Beauty gamifies winback for inactive shoppers

The teaser email in one of our earlier emails is enough proof that your eCommerce emails can be gamified as well.
While some emails can show dynamic content, like an update on reward points, you can take it up a notch, like Ulta Beauty does.

What they do: offer select upgrades (for active shoppers who haven't been purchasing as much or stopped altogether) + some dynamic recommendations on what to do with the points earned:

How can you apply this gamification idea:

• Surprise your inactive members with an upgrade or bonus points. It’s a great way to bring them back without running a discount
• Show them what they can do with it – that part matters more than the point
• And always make it feel personal. “We missed you” hits better than “Here’s your reward”

Also read: 11 High-Converting Win Back Email Examples (+ Templates)

34. Astrid & Miyu run a seasonal gamification sequence

This gamification example from Astrid & Miyu shows how exactly you can create holiday-themed gaming experiences on your eCommerce site.

What they do is tease their Advent Calendar-themed jewelry for early access to their email subscribers (making it feel like an achievement):

How you can apply this gamification idea on your eCommerce store:

• You can create themed drops – like product drops every Friday, hidden behind passcodes

Also read: The Most Creative Black Friday Campaigns - in eCommerce

35. Five CBD makes referral gamification feel personal

Give $X to get $X is something most shoppers see, but don’t act on 🙁

But, you can take a book out of Five CBD’s page and offer gifts (a more direct reward) when shoppers refer. Note how they place their gummies in the image to create a hint of what shoppers will actually receive:

What to remember before applying this gamification idea:

• Make it feel personal; say something like “Share this with a friend who’d love this” instead of “Invite 3 friends to earn”

Also read: eCommerce Referral Marketing Cheat Codes: Hacks from 6 Amazing Programs

36. Coogi Australia nails review/UGC gamification

This gamification example from Coogi Australia combines loyalty points with the exclusivity of a limited edition collab collection.

By offering an assured reward of 100 loyalty points (equivalent to $5), Coogi Australia asks shoppers who’ve purchased the collection to take a chance to win 2000 points (or $100):

PEOPLE ALSO ASK

a) How to implement gamification in my eCommerce store?

Start simple. You don’t need to invest immediately in a gamification tool. What you need is a clear goal.

Figure out what’s broken first: are people bouncing early, not signing up, or not buying again?

Then pick the right trigger, like rewards for engagement, progress bars for motivation, or challenges for retention.

Then pick tools that are already built for your CMS platform (like quiz builder plugins, etc.) 

Run small 15-day A/B tests and measure whether there’s a lift in signups, repeat visits, or AOV.

P.S. If you run actual games, like spin the wheel, or ‘try your luck’, don’t always let shoppers win. A “You won!” every time makes it all the less fun. 

b) Which gamification ideas work best for small stores?

Small stores don’t need AR or custom mini-games. You need quick dopamine hits that make people come back.

• Progress bars (for free shipping or discounts)
• Spin-to-win popups (but smartly segmented)
• Quizzes (to guide shoppers to the right product)
• Tiered loyalty programs (that actually feel like leveling up)

These are cheap to set up and easy to A/B test, yet create a big lift in engagement and repeat sales.

c) Is gamification suitable for all brands?

Pretty much, but only if it fits how your shoppers already behave.

If you sell everyday items, gamify convenience (progress bars, daily rewards, streaks).

If you sell premium or high-consideration products, gamify discovery (quizzes, build-your-own tools, exclusive drops).

And if your audience skews older or more practical, keep the design subtle. Focus on progress and payoff, not over-the-top designs.

A simple change in how you frame your copy can create gamification.