In a time when children’s anxiety and depression rates continue to soar, one game is daring to turn screen time into healing time. Meet MindLight, the revolutionary new video game that uses real-time biometric feedback to help kids learn how to manage stress and anxiety—while having fun.
Launched this week by PlayNice LLC, MindLight isn’t just a game. It’s a scientifically-proven mental health tool that helps children gain real emotional regulation skills through immersive gameplay.
🎮 What Is MindLight?
At its core, MindLight is a story-driven action-adventure game where players explore a haunted mansion using the power of their own mind. The twist? The brighter their character’s “mindlight,” the more they overcome fear, unlock doors, and conquer creepy challenges. And that brightness is directly controlled by their real-time emotional state, measured by a wearable EEG headset.
Children learn to stay calm in the face of in-game fears. If anxiety spikes, the game reacts—becoming darker and more intense. Stay calm, and the world lights up. This connection between mental state and in-game success makes MindLight not just a fun experience, but a powerful mental training tool.
“We created MindLight to empower children to understand and master their own stress responses,” says Evan Hirsch, CEO and co-founder of PlayNice. “Kids today need more than access to therapy—they need tools they can use in everyday life. And nothing engages them like video games.”
🧠 Backed by Science, Built for Fun
Unlike most games that claim to be “educational” or “wellness-focused,” MindLight is supported by over a decade of scientific research. Co-founder Dr. Isabela Granic, a developmental psychologist and professor at McMaster University, led multiple clinical trials involving over 1,000 children.
The findings? Just 5.5 hours of gameplay over several weeks led to anxiety reductions equal to 8–12 weeks of traditional therapy—a powerful claim backed by randomized controlled trials.
“MindLight is screen time parents can feel great about,” says Dr. Granic. “It’s not about replacing therapy—it’s about expanding access to something that works, in a format that kids already love.”
👻 Inside the Game: Face Fears, Save Grandma
In MindLight, kids play as a young child navigating a dark, haunted mansion in search of their lost grandmother. Along the way, they face shadowy creatures and eerie environments designed to simulate everyday anxiety triggers—like darkness, isolation, and sudden threats.
Through gameplay, kids learn to manage their real emotions using breathing techniques and mindfulness strategies. The calmer they remain, the more their character’s mindlight glows—lighting the way, unlocking new areas, and dispelling fearsome foes.
Each player’s brainwave or heart rate is measured via a NeuroSky MindWave 2 EEG headset, making the experience deeply personal and highly interactive.
🕹️ How to Play MindLight
Playing MindLight requires two components:
- A biofeedback EEG headset — currently compatible with NeuroSky MindWave 2 (more device support coming soon).
- A subscription to the MindLight app, available on:
- Android Tablets
- iPads
- Windows PCs (v10 v2004 or later)
💲 Pricing:
- Single Child Plan: $6.99/month or $59.99/year
- Family Plan (up to 5 users): $9.99/month or $99.99/year
- EEG headset + annual plan: Approx. $200 — the same cost as one in-person therapy session
🔗 Download today on Amazon, Google Play, Apple App Store, or directly from the PlayNice website.
🎮 Gaming for Good: The PlayNice Mission
Founded by Dr. Granic and led by veterans from Electronic Arts, Sony Imageworks, Nexon, and Xbox, PlayNice is on a mission to prove that games can be fun and transformative.
“We reject the idea that ‘serious games’ have to be boring,” says Hirsch. “MindLight competes head-to-head with commercial games in quality—and happens to improve mental health at the same time.”
📢 Final Thoughts: A New Era of Healing Through Play
MindLight represents a major breakthrough in mental wellness gaming—one that’s scientifically validated, beautifully designed, and built with love. In a world where mental health support is more critical (and expensive) than ever, MindLight offers a fun, accessible, and proven solution that empowers kids to understand and manage their emotions.
If you’re a parent, therapist, or simply someone who believes in the power of play, now is the time to give MindLight a try—and help shine a light in the darkness.
