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A team led by José Antonio Gil Gómez (Universitat Politècnica de València) and Inmaculada Montoya Castilla (Universitat de València) has developed emoWELL, a video game that helps improve emotional management in young people between the ages of 18 and 25.

emoWELL is based on a psychological model and uses an immersive narrative: a train journey with symbolic stops addressing common emotional challenges at this life stage. Through interactive activities, participants learn to identify, understand and manage their emotions in a healthier/more effective way.

The study involved 114 university students, divided into an experimental group (which used emoWELL) and a control group. Those who played the video game showed an improvement in their ability to pay attention to their emotions. They also significantly reduced their use of strategies that—rather than helping—tend to worsen emotional distress or hinder long-term well-being, such as repressing their emotions.

The students also accepted their emotions better and achieved greater control over them. In addition, the team found that the improvement in the regulation or adequate management of one's emotions positively influenced areas of well-being, specifically in how participants accepted themselves and managed the demands of their environment.

The research is published in the journal Frontiers in Psychology.

"Most participants rated the experience very positively, highlighting the educational content and accessibility of the game. Some have even incorporated strategies learned from our video game into their daily lives, " said José Antonio Gil Gómez, a researcher at the ai2 Institute—UPV.

Psychoeducational support

According to UPV and UV researchers, emoWELL has been designed primarily as a prevention tool through the emotional training described above. Its use is recommended as a psychoeducational support resource in university settings.

The research team points out that under no circumstances does emoWELL replace professional intervention. Still, it can complement certain therapies or treatments in appropriate contexts.

"It is a pioneering and useful tool as a preventive complement to well-being programs at this stage, " concludes Inmaculada Montoya from the Department of Personality, Assessment and Psychological Treatments at the UV.

Alongside Montoya and Gómez, Saray Velert-Jiménez, Selene Valero-Moreno, and Marián Pérez-Marín, all researchers at the University of Valencia, also participated in the study.

More information: Saray Velert-Jiménez et al, EmoWELL: effectiveness of a serious game for emotion regulation in emerging adulthood, Frontiers in Psychology (2025). DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2025.1561418  Journal information: Frontiers in Psychology