This article aims to systematically explore the literature on game-based learning in higher education, focusing on its impacts on students' thinking and learning. Prisma method was employed to analysis the data. The article published between 2016 to 2023 from Web of Science, Scopus and Eric were taken into consideration for this study with the selected keywords. A comprehensive search of 11 studies from Finland, Sweden, Spain, Costa Rica, Hungary, the Netherlands, and the USA reveals that game-based learning has been associated with improved reflective thinking, motivation, creative thinking, computational thinking, design thinking, problem-solving skills, and joy and engagement. The findings suggest that game-based learning can promote deeper learning and cognitive development among students in higher education ecosystem.