A haunted house, shadow creatures, and a mission to rescue your grandmother might sound like the typical spooky adventure game. However, MindLight, developed by PlayNice, transcends the ordinary by integrating an action-adventure format with biofeedback technology to help children manage stress and anxiety.
But what exactly is biofeedback? It's a mind-body therapy designed to enhance physical and mental health by making your emotions an integral part of the gameplay. In MindLight, when you're calm, the dark mansion illuminates, but if you're feeling 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 the lead scientist behind several randomized control trials. These trials, involving over a thousand children, demonstrated that playing MindLight could reduce anxiety by at least half. The game's concept is straightforward: you play as a child exploring a mansion overtaken by shadows, using a headset to track your brainwaves or heart rate in real time. The light you generate helps navigate the mansion and fend off terrifying creatures.
Although primarily tested with children aged 8 to 12, PlayNice reports that older kids and even parents have found the game engaging. 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 your journey with MindLight, you'll need two key components: the Neurosky MindWave 2 EEG headset and a subscription to the game. PlayNice offers two subscription options—a single-child package and a family package that supports up to five players.
You can purchase MindLight from the Google Play Store, the Amazon store, the App Store, or directly from PlayNice's website.
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