by Perlea, Victor ¹, Mayer, Gwendolyn ¹

• ¹ Universitätsklinikum Heidelberg

This is the abridged version, for the extended version click here
The introduction and overview can be found here

Disclaimer: We have compiled this information to the best of our knowledge based on current scientific literature (as of May 2026). However, we do not provide diagnosis or treatment recommendations. If you notice any mental health concerns in yourself or in a child or adolescent in your care, please consult a medical doctor.

What is meant by “serious gaming”?

Serious gaming uses digital games on computers, mobile phones, or virtual reality to support health, for example by improving health literacy, supporting rehabilitation, and promoting emotional and cognitive wellbeing. Reviews suggest initial evidence for feasibility, acceptability, and effectiveness in adolescent mental health.

Recent findings on serious gaming for adolescent mental health

Gamification can be an effective learning strategy for children and adolescents to build mental health skills (Xie, 2022). Studies suggest short-term benefits for mental health literacy, although small samples and limited adherence reduce confidence in these findings (Zeiler et al., 2025. Most research so far has focused on feasibility, while robust effectiveness studies remain limited; anxiety is more often studied in younger adolescents, and depressive symptoms in older adolescents Martínez et al., 2021).

References for this article are here