Effectiveness of Serious Games in Social Skills Training to Autistic Individuals: A Systematic Review

Neuroscience and Biobehavioral Reviews

Azadboni, T. T., Nasiri, S., et al. (2024).

Neuroscience and Biobehavioral Reviews, Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neubiorev.2024.105634.

<div>This systematic review investigates the effects of serious games on social skills (e.g., communication, participation) in individuals on the autism spectrum across the lifespan.</div>

Iran University of Medical Sciences

Not stated

<div>Original, peer-reviewed articles. Excludes observational studies, reviews, letters to the editor, brief reports, posters, and newspapers.</div>

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<div>Significant games demonstrated promising improvements in social abilities in individuals on the autism spectrum. Specific outcomes include the following:</div> <div> <ul> <li>Greater intervention length correlated with social skill improvement.</li> <li>Adolescents gained the most benefit from serious games.</li> <li>Educational settings provided the optimal environment for structured support for serious game use.</li> <li>Games using a joystick, mouse, touch screen, or keyboard demonstrated greater effects compared to those that required body movement or voice interaction. PC platforms showed more effects than mobile platforms.</li> <li>Game design impacted the effectiveness. Combining mental and physical activities and those with a combination of visual and auditory elements demonstrated limited effects, while 3D and visual games showed greater effects. No conclusive results could be made regarding the benefits of multiplayer compared to single-player games.</li> </ul> </div> <div>Limitations of this review include the possible exclusion of relevant studies, the lack of adult participants, and the limited availability of psychophysiological data. Additional long-term research is needed to support the development of serious games for individuals on the autism spectrum.</div>