<![CDATA[This qualitative case study explores the use of digital games as a medium for vocabulary learning in an Indonesian EFL context. The participant was a male ninth-grade junior high school student who regularly played Mobile Legends: Bang Bang. Data were collected over a one-month period through vocabulary pre- and post-tests, questionnaires, semi-structured interviews, and gameplay observations. The results indicate a notable improvement in vocabulary achievement, with the student’s score increasing by 26.67%. The learner acquired various game-related lexical items such as defense, jungle, minion, and kill through incidental learning rather than direct instruction. Several learning strategies were identified, including contextual guessing, noticing unfamiliar words, and repeated exposure during gameplay, which were supported by the game’s audiovisual and interactive features. In addition, the participant showed strong intrinsic motivation and low anxiety, suggesting that digital gaming created a positive and engaging learning environment. The study concludes that digital games have high potential as supplementary tools for vocabulary development, particularly outside the formal classroom, by providing meaningful input, natural repetition, and motivational benefits. Therefore, educators are encouraged to consider digital games as alternative learning resources to support vocabulary acquisition in EFL learners.]]>
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