A haunted house, shadow creatures, and the mission to rescue your grandmother sounds like an usual spooky adventure game. But MindLight is more than that. Developed by PlayNice, it’s an action-adventure game actually helps kids manage stress and anxiety using biofeedback.
What does biofeedback mean? It’s a mind-body therapy that may improve your physical and mental health. So, your emotions become part of the gameplay. If you’re calm, the dark mansion lights up. If you’re anxious, it stays shadowy and creepy.
MindLight is more than just a game
The game was co-developed by Dr. Isabela Granic, co-founder of PlayNice and the lead scientist behind several randomised control trials that tested MindLight with over a thousand kids. During the trials, they found out that kids who played MindLight reduced their anxiety by at least half.
The game’s premise is simple. You’re a child exploring your grandmother’s mansion, which has been swallowed by shadows. Using a headset, the game tracks your brainwaves or heart rate in real-time. The light helps you navigate the mansion and chase away fearsome creatures.
Though the game was tested mainly with kids aged 8 to 12, PlayNice says even older kids and parents have enjoyed it. Since the game adapts to each player’s own stress response in real-time, it stays personal and dynamic no matter who’s playing.
There Are Two Options
To get started with MindLight, you’ll need two things for yourself or your kid (whoever is playing). They are the Neurosky MindWave 2 EEG headset and a subscription to the game itself. There are two subscription packages—one for a single child, and one for families with up to five players.
You can grab MindLight from the Google Play Store. It’s also available on the Amazon store, App store and PlayNice’s site.
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