How does a game-based assessment work?
The game is built so that ordinary play contains small, repeatable situations: a goal that takes several tries, a rule that changes partway through, an unknown path, a partner who can help. Each situation is a chance to observe one behaviour. The game logs what the child did and when. It does not need to know what the child said, how they looked, or who they are.
Afterwards, the log is summarised into patterns: how often the child tried again after a miss, how quickly they adjusted to a new rule, whether they explored or stayed with what worked. A good assessment reports each pattern together with how much it can be trusted and what it does not mean.
How is it different from a questionnaire or a clinic test?
| Method | Who provides the information | What it captures | Typical time | Main limit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Parent or teacher rating scale (e.g. Vanderbilt, Conners, SDQ) | An adult who knows the child | Behaviour remembered over weeks or months, across settings | 10–20 minutes | Shaped by the adult's memory, expectations and mood |
| Clinical interview and observation | A clinician | History, development and behaviour in the clinic | One or more visits | Cost and waiting time; a clinic is an unusual setting for a child |
| Computer attention task (continuous performance test) | The child | Speed and errors on a repetitive task | About 15–25 minutes | Narrow, and many children find it dull |
| Game-based assessment | The child | Choices and timing across varied play | 10–20 minutes | Measures still need validation; one session is one snapshot |
These methods answer different questions. A rating scale tells you what an adult has noticed over time. A game tells you what the child did in a set task today. Neither replaces the other. See parent questionnaires vs play-based observation for a fuller comparison.
What can it tell you, and what can't it?
- It can describe how your child approached specific challenges: trying again, switching strategy, exploring, asking for help.
- It can give you concrete examples to discuss with a pediatrician, therapist or teacher.
- It can't diagnose ADHD, autism, a learning disability or any other condition. Diagnosis needs a clinician, a history and input from home and school.
- It can't tell you why a behaviour happened. Sleep, hunger, mood, the device and the room all affect one session.
- It can't rank your child against other children. Behaviour varies widely at every age.
Is the science behind game-based assessment established?
Using game-like tasks to measure behaviour is long established in research. Many standard measures of attention and executive function, such as card-sorting and flanker tasks, are already presented to children as simple games. What is still being tested is whether richer, more natural games measure these behaviours as reliably as established tools do.
That is the question Mores Research is testing. Every Mores measure is being checked against established clinical tools, and the results will be published whether they hold up or not. See the research.
Where Mores fits
Mores is one example of a game-based behaviour assessment. Your child plays for about 12 minutes on a phone, tablet or laptop. The game reads 16 behaviour markers in four areas: effort, flexibility, exploration and connection. You get a private report in plain words. It is for ages 6 to 12, it costs ₹499 per session in India, and it is not a diagnosis.
Common questions
- Is a game-based assessment accurate?
- It depends on the game and on whether its measures have been validated against established tools. Ask any provider what each measure has been checked against and how reliable it is. Mores is still validating its measures and publishes the results either way.
- Can a game diagnose ADHD or autism?
- No. A game can describe behaviour in one setting. A diagnosis needs a qualified clinician, a developmental history and information from home and school.
- What age is a game-based assessment for?
- Each game is designed for an age range. Mores is designed for children aged 6 to 12.
- Will my child find it stressful?
- It is designed to feel like ordinary play, with no right or wrong moves. As with any activity, stop if your child is upset.
Not a diagnosis. This guide is general information, not medical advice. If you are worried about your child, talk to your pediatrician. Written by the Mores Health team from the sources below; it has not yet been reviewed by a clinician.