Embarking on a spooky adventure with haunted houses and shadow creatures to rescue your grandmother might sound like a typical eerie game. However, MindLight, developed by PlayNice, transcends the usual by integrating an action-adventure format with biofeedback to help children manage stress and anxiety. But what exactly is biofeedback? It's a mind-body therapy aimed at enhancing physical and mental well-being, where your emotions directly influence the gameplay. When you're calm, the dark mansion illuminates, but when anxiety creeps in, the environment remains shadowy and ominous.

MindLight is More Than Just a Game

MindLight was co-developed by Dr. Isabela Granic, co-founder of PlayNice and the lead scientist behind several randomized control trials involving over a thousand children. These trials demonstrated that kids who played MindLight experienced at least a 50% reduction in anxiety. The game's storyline is straightforward: you play as a child navigating your grandmother's mansion, engulfed by shadows. Equipped with a headset, the game monitors your brainwaves or heart rate in real-time, using light to guide you through the mansion and ward off terrifying creatures.

Although primarily tested with children aged 8 to 12, PlayNice notes that older kids and even parents have found the game engaging. The game's real-time adaptation to each player's stress response ensures a personalized and dynamic experience for everyone.

There Are Two Options

To dive into MindLight, you'll need two essentials: the Neurosky MindWave 2 EEG headset and a subscription to the game. PlayNice offers two subscription packages—one tailored for a single child, and another for families accommodating up to five players.

You can download MindLight from the Google Play Store, Amazon store, App Store, or directly from PlayNice's website.

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