<![CDATA[Background: Many secondary students struggle with abstract concepts and formula reliance in mechanical energy. Objective: This study evaluated Energy Quest, a curriculum-aligned card game, to enhance Grade 9 students' conceptual understanding and problem-solving skills in kinetic and potential energy. Method: Employing a quasi-experimental pretest–posttest non-equivalent control group design, 77 students across two intact classes participated. The experimental group (n = 40) engaged in structured game-based learning, while the control group (n = 37) received conventional instruction over two weeks. Data were collected using a validated 20-item achievement test α = 0.860) and analyzed via paired and independent samples t-tests and Cohen's d. Result: Posttest performance significantly favored the experimental group ($M = 16.40, SD = 1.74$) over the control group (M = 13.20, SD = 1.23), t (75) = 9.26, p < .001. The intervention demonstrated an extraordinarily large effect size (d = 2.11), indicating substantial learning gains. Conclusion: Structured game-based learning effectively strengthens conceptual understanding and problem-solving abilities beyond conventional teaching methods. Contribution: This study provides empirical evidence that low-cost, non-digital, and curriculum-aligned instructional innovations can successfully bridge persistent physics learning gaps, offering a scalable pedagogical solution for resource-constrained science classrooms.]]>
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