Immersive gaming supports children’s soft skills development, a brand-new study reveals, with players having to ‘think a few steps ahead, remain focused, and flex their memory’.
Immersive Gamebox surveyed customers who had previously attended the interactive gaming experience with their children to understand how families interact with the activity.
In the survey, 94% of respondents said their children suggested ideas or strategies while playing, and 70% felt the activity provided a meaningful mental challenge. Games such as Alien Aptitude Test present players with challenges that require critical and creative thinking to solve.
Almost 75% of respondents said their children frequently demonstrated problem-solving skills during the experience, while the remaining 25% said they did so occasionally. Solving challenges together also creates opportunities for families to collaborate and bond.
“Immersive gaming uses technology to project interactive visuals and create responsive environments, while still encouraging physical movement, shared experiences, and active participation,” said Lisa Paton, CEO at Immersive Gamebox, in a press release.
“Players are often required to think a few steps ahead, remain focused, and flex their memory. Encouraging children to think critically teaches them to analyse and understand information so they can form well-reasoned judgments.”
In the survey, 46% said their children frequently took on a leadership role during the experience, while 48% said they occasionally did. Meanwhile, 65% said their children frequently encouraged or supported other players, while a further 34% said they did so occasionally.
Lisa Paton added, “Immersive gaming requires every member to actively work together to achieve a common goal, prompting communication, joint decision-making, and encouraging one another. This cooperative gameplay creates moments of shared success and, therefore, positive memories for families to look back on.”
“Appealing to everyone has become increasingly difficult as social media and general phone use reduce attention spans for people of all ages, especially teens and children. However, the answer isn’t necessarily eliminating technology but perhaps finding a way to incorporate it into family activities that still bring you together.
Among families with children of different ages, 72% reported that the children remained equally engaged throughout the experience, suggesting that immersive gaming can support soft skills across age groups.