Enhancing Engagement in Cognitive Assessment Through Serious Game Design

Abstract

Serious games have emerged as valuable tools for healthcare by increasing user engagement while supporting objectives beyond entertainment. One area of growing interest is cognitive assessment, where traditional neuropsychological tests remain essential for evaluating cognitive function but can present challenges in maintaining participant engagement. To explore whether gamification can address this challenge, we developed the serious game Flight of Mind using Unity. The game adapts the Trail Making Test, Tower of London, and Conners Continuous Performance Test into airport-themed activities assessing domains such as executive function, working memory, and sustained attention. It also incorporates accessibility features, including a colorblind-friendly palette and dyslexia-friendly font option. To evaluate engagement and usability, we conducted preliminary playtesting on 23 participants followed by a post-gameplay survey. On 5-point Likert scales, 78.3% rated engagement a 4 or 5 (M = 4.0), while 65.2% reported remaining motivated to complete the game (M = 4.0). Usability ratings were similarly positive: 91.3% agreed instructions were easy to understand (M = 4.6), and 95.7% found the controls easy to use (M = 4.8). Open-ended feedback also praised the game's visual and auditory design. Ultimately, while further playtesting is needed to fully evaluate its effectiveness, Flight of Mind shows promising early results for engaging participants in cognitive assessment.