This study provides a bibliometric analysis of metaverse research using CiteSpace, analyzing 921 papers from the Web of Science core database. The results show that Ireland has the highest research impact, while China has the most publications but lower impact. The research focuses on technical and historical reviews of the metaverse, as well as its development in education. Key clusters include artificial intelligence and UTAUT2. Research hotspots include virtual reality, augmented reality, mixed reality, digital twins, and artificial intelligence. The metaverse is in its early stages, with significant potential for future development. The study highlights the need for further research in various fields, including technology, ethics, and governance. The analysis reveals that metaverse research is rapidly evolving, with new trends emerging in areas such as non-fungible tokens and virtual reality. The study also identifies key journals and authors in the field, and highlights the importance of interdisciplinary research. The research has limitations, including the use of a single database and the potential exclusion of other sources. Future research should focus on overcoming technical limitations and exploring the ethical and governance aspects of the metaverse. The study concludes that the metaverse is a promising area of research with significant potential for future development.This study provides a bibliometric analysis of metaverse research using CiteSpace, analyzing 921 papers from the Web of Science core database. The results show that Ireland has the highest research impact, while China has the most publications but lower impact. The research focuses on technical and historical reviews of the metaverse, as well as its development in education. Key clusters include artificial intelligence and UTAUT2. Research hotspots include virtual reality, augmented reality, mixed reality, digital twins, and artificial intelligence. The metaverse is in its early stages, with significant potential for future development. The study highlights the need for further research in various fields, including technology, ethics, and governance. The analysis reveals that metaverse research is rapidly evolving, with new trends emerging in areas such as non-fungible tokens and virtual reality. The study also identifies key journals and authors in the field, and highlights the importance of interdisciplinary research. The research has limitations, including the use of a single database and the potential exclusion of other sources. Future research should focus on overcoming technical limitations and exploring the ethical and governance aspects of the metaverse. The study concludes that the metaverse is a promising area of research with significant potential for future development.