Gamification has emerged as an innovative technology-enabled approach for enhancing cognitive capabilities in organizations. This study examines the effect of gamification on strategic thinking, a critical managerial capability, while investigating the mediating roles of knowledge management and affective engagement. The research is applied in purpose and descriptive-survey in design. The theoretical framework was developed through a comprehensive literature review, and empirical data were collected using a structured questionnaire. The study population consisted of senior and middle managers of Pasargad Bank branches in Tehran, Iran. Based on G*Power analysis, a sample of 225 respondents was selected through simple random sampling. Data were analyzed using structural equation modeling (SEM) with SPSS and AMOS software. The findings indicate that gamification has significant positive effects on knowledge management (β = 0.75), affective engagement (β = 0.61), and strategic thinking (β = 0.54). Furthermore, knowledge management (β = 0.49) and affective engagement (β = 0.33) have significant direct positive effects on strategic thinking, confirming their mediating roles. These findings suggest that gamification can strengthen managers’ strategic thinking by promoting knowledge-sharing and enhancing emotional engagement. This study contributes to the literature by integrating strategic thinking into the gamification research stream while examining the mediating roles of knowledge management and affective engagement. The findings also provide practical insights for designing gamification initiatives that enhance managers’ strategic thinking and organizational effectiveness.