Christophe De bont 
13/05/2020Since running around the city in small groups with tablets is off the table for the time being, developer Telma and [ew32] launched a free online single-player version of their serious urban game Mindfits. Known for their city games that allow teams to approach serious subjects in a playful way using their local environment, in this version you can tackle the issue of mental health in young people from the safety of your own home.
In Mindfits: Lockdown Edition (link in Dutch) you have just opened the door of your new student room when a lockdown is initiated. The objective of the game is to connect with your fellow students. By helping them out, players learn how to cope with difficult moments, stress, taboos, and anxiety. Aimed at kids aged 14 and up, the game covers important themes such as loneliness, stress, anxiety, self-image, and sexuality. It also contains links to real-life help organisations such as the drug and suicide line.
While this virus attacks our physical health, there’s no doubt the consequences of this pandemic will also leave a lot of mental scars, so it’s great to see developers working with this difficult subject matter. The game is free to play right now on pc, tablet or smartphone, though you will have to create a free account with the Serious Urban Game platform. The developers are very interested in feedback of teachers and students, so they can keep improving their game.
