A haunted house, shadow creatures, and a mission to rescue your grandmother might sound like a typical spooky adventure game. However, MindLight, developed by PlayNice, transcends the usual gaming experience by incorporating biofeedback to help children manage stress and anxiety. Biofeedback is a mind-body therapy aimed at enhancing physical and mental health, making your emotional state a key component of the gameplay. When you're calm, the dark mansion in the game lights up, but if you're anxious, the environment remains shadowy and eerie.
MindLight: More Than Just a Game
MindLight was co-developed by Dr. Isabela Granic, co-founder of PlayNice and a lead scientist who conducted 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, which is engulfed in shadows. Using a headset, the game monitors your brainwaves or heart rate in real-time, allowing the light to guide you through the mansion and ward off terrifying creatures.
Although primarily tested with children aged 8 to 12, PlayNice notes that the game has been enjoyed by older children and even parents. MindLight adapts to each player’s stress response in real-time, ensuring a personalized and dynamic experience for everyone.
Getting Started with MindLight
To begin playing MindLight, you'll need two essential items: the Neurosky MindWave 2 EEG headset and a subscription to the game. PlayNice offers two subscription options: one for a single child and another for families with up to five players. You can purchase MindLight from various platforms, including the Google Play Store, Amazon store, Apple App Store, and directly from PlayNice’s website.
