University of Silesia in Katowice

Using games to mitigate the deterioration of cognitive functions and improve the affective state after suffering from COVID-19.

COVID-19, logic games, rehabilitation, biofeedback, COVID fog

The main goal of the research project is to determine which constructive elements of analogue games have therapeutic advantages for cognitive, affective, and social functions impaired by conditions of living in isolation (e.g. due to the pandemic). The actions are consistent with the scope of the Priority Research Areas: Harmonious Human Development – concern for health protection and quality of life.

During the pandemic, board games were one of the ludic methods providing people working in front of computers with a “digital detox”.  Along with the increase of remote work significance, in 2020 only, the analogue games market recorded a 20% income increase even despite logistic problems in shipments from China, where many components are manufactured.

At the same time, in the scope of education and psychology, the reflection on designing games as specifically directed at the psychological functioning prophylaxis in regard to living in isolation is a technically non-existent field. In our project, we want to start a reliable reflection over the usage of particular mechanisms applied in board games as elements influencing three basic parameters impaired during pandemic situations and isolation in general. It refers to cognitive functions, affective states and interpersonal communication.

Thanks to the results of research, the community of board game designers will receive additional invaluable information on design mechanisms, which bring the best effects in terms of improving particular psychological parameters. Based on that, they will be able to equip their products in a way these products can serve people the best.