Skip to content
Bonfire Docs
Docs

explanation

Gamification for members

Bonfire communities use light game mechanics to make participation rewarding and to surface the people who show up and contribute. Here's what each piece means and how it works.

The building blocks

  • XP (experience points) — earned by participating: posting, reacting, completing course lessons, finishing onboarding, and more. The owner decides which actions award XP and how much.
  • Levels — as your XP grows, you climb levels. Higher levels can signal experience and, in some communities, unlock recognition.
  • Badges — awards for specific milestones or behaviors (e.g. completing a course or hitting a streak). They show on your profile.
  • Streaks — for showing up consistently. Keep your activity going day after day to extend your streak; miss a day and it resets.
  • Leaderboards — rank members by XP so the most active contributors are visible. They refresh on a recurring basis.
  • Weekly challenges — short, time-boxed goals the community runs each week to spark a burst of activity.

Why it exists

Gamification isn't about "winning." It rewards the everyday habits that make a community thrive — answering questions, sharing wins, finishing lessons. It also helps owners spot and thank their most engaged members.

XP and levels come from real participation, not points farming. Genuine contributions are what move you up.

Where to see your progress

Your profile shows your level, badges, and streak. The Leaderboard (if enabled by the owner) shows how you compare. Course progress and XP rewards appear in the Courses module.

Related

  • Set up your profile
  • Using modules in your community
  • Navigate spaces and channels

FAQ

How do I earn XP fastest? Be genuinely active: post, react, reply in threads, and complete course lessons. Owners set the exact rewards.

Why did my streak reset? Streaks require consistent activity. Missing a day breaks the streak and it starts over.

Who can see the leaderboard? If the owner has enabled it, all members can. Rankings are based on XP.

Do I lose XP if I'm inactive? XP is generally cumulative, but streaks and leaderboard position reflect recent activity, so they can drop.

Can I turn gamification off for myself? The features are configured by the owner at the community level. Adjust related pings in your Notification settings.