Back to the Past: A Systematic Review of Immersive Narrative in Cultural Heritage Conservation

Abstract

Immersive narrative creates a vivid experiential environment that allows users to be participants rather than mere observers, holding immense potential in the field of cultural heritage. However, current research primarily focuses on technological applications and integration, lacking in-depth exploration of the fusion between technology and content as well as limited user engagement. Following a systematic review methodology, this study conducted searches and two rounds of screening in 7 major databases, resulting in the inclusion of 176 studies on immersive narrative in cultural heritage conservation. The study summarizes and extracts the current state, development trajectory, trends, research methods, and key elements in this field, innovatively categorizing them into 6 core levels of research patterns while proposing corresponding optimization strategies. Additionally, this study identifies research gaps and suggests future directions, aiming to facilitate the enhancement of immersive narrative development and deepen user engagement in the cultural heritage field.