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Evaluating Free Serious Game-Based Apps for Teaching Socio-Emotional Skills to Individuals on the Autism Spectrum: A Systematic Review of the Smartphone Markets.

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Title: Evaluating Free Serious Game-Based Apps for Teaching Socio-Emotional Skills to Individuals on the Autism Spectrum: A Systematic Review of the Smartphone Markets.
Authors: Azadboni, Tahere Talebi (AUTHOR), Sadoughi, Farahnaz (AUTHOR), Panaghi, Leili (AUTHOR), Nasiri, Somayeh (AUTHOR)
Source: Journal of Autism & Developmental Disorders. Jun2026, Vol. 56 Issue 6, p2186-2204. 19p.
Subjects: Mobile apps, Scale analysis (Psychology), Smartphones, Autism, Emotions, Teaching methods, Educational technology, Descriptive statistics, Systematic reviews, Mathematical models, Social skills, Communication, Asperger's syndrome, Theory, Video games, User interfaces, People with disabilities
Abstract: Autism spectrum disorder is characterized by restricted and repetitive behaviors or interests, emotional difficulties, and challenges with social communication. Technological tools are crucial for individuals on the autism spectrum as they offer predictable environments free of social demands. Mobile smartphones are particularly suitable for individuals on the autism spectrum due to their attractive screens, visually stimulating displays, high portability, engaging music and game functions, and ease of use. This study investigated the current market situation for game-based mobile applications designed to teach socio-emotional skills to individuals on the autism spectrum. This study focused on identifying game-based mobile applications available on Android and iOS platforms, evaluating the extracted serious games using a serious games assessment tool, and assessing the apps with the Mobile Application Rating Scale (MARS). We also provided suggestions for future designs. 10 applications were identified on the Android and iOS. At first glance, it seems there are several game-based applications for teaching socio-emotional skills to individuals on the autism spectrum, but most of them contain advice and textual information and lack the main aspects of serious games. On average, the design of the selected applications based on the use of serious game design principles can be classified as good. Additionally, more than half of the apps (70%) received an acceptable MARS score. The findings reveal that few apps meet the predetermined criteria for quality, content, or performance, indicating a need for future designs to adhere to these principles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
Copyright of Journal of Autism & Developmental Disorders is the property of Springer Nature and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
Database: Psychology and Behavioral Sciences Collection
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  Data: Evaluating Free Serious Game-Based Apps for Teaching Socio-Emotional Skills to Individuals on the Autism Spectrum: A Systematic Review of the Smartphone Markets.
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Azadboni%2C+Tahere+Talebi%22">Azadboni, Tahere Talebi</searchLink> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Sadoughi%2C+Farahnaz%22">Sadoughi, Farahnaz</searchLink> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Panaghi%2C+Leili%22">Panaghi, Leili</searchLink> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Nasiri%2C+Somayeh%22">Nasiri, Somayeh</searchLink> (AUTHOR)
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Mobile+apps%22">Mobile apps</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Scale+analysis+%28Psychology%29%22">Scale analysis (Psychology)</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Smartphones%22">Smartphones</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Autism%22">Autism</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Emotions%22">Emotions</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Teaching+methods%22">Teaching methods</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Educational+technology%22">Educational technology</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Descriptive+statistics%22">Descriptive statistics</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Systematic+reviews%22">Systematic reviews</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Mathematical+models%22">Mathematical models</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Social+skills%22">Social skills</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Communication%22">Communication</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Asperger's+syndrome%22">Asperger's syndrome</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Theory%22">Theory</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Video+games%22">Video games</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22User+interfaces%22">User interfaces</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22People+with+disabilities%22">People with disabilities</searchLink>
– Name: Abstract
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  Data: Autism spectrum disorder is characterized by restricted and repetitive behaviors or interests, emotional difficulties, and challenges with social communication. Technological tools are crucial for individuals on the autism spectrum as they offer predictable environments free of social demands. Mobile smartphones are particularly suitable for individuals on the autism spectrum due to their attractive screens, visually stimulating displays, high portability, engaging music and game functions, and ease of use. This study investigated the current market situation for game-based mobile applications designed to teach socio-emotional skills to individuals on the autism spectrum. This study focused on identifying game-based mobile applications available on Android and iOS platforms, evaluating the extracted serious games using a serious games assessment tool, and assessing the apps with the Mobile Application Rating Scale (MARS). We also provided suggestions for future designs. 10 applications were identified on the Android and iOS. At first glance, it seems there are several game-based applications for teaching socio-emotional skills to individuals on the autism spectrum, but most of them contain advice and textual information and lack the main aspects of serious games. On average, the design of the selected applications based on the use of serious game design principles can be classified as good. Additionally, more than half of the apps (70%) received an acceptable MARS score. The findings reveal that few apps meet the predetermined criteria for quality, content, or performance, indicating a need for future designs to adhere to these principles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
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  Data: <i>Copyright of Journal of Autism & Developmental Disorders is the property of Springer Nature and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract.</i> (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
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        Value: 10.1007/s10803-025-06738-7
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      – Code: eng
        Text: English
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      Pagination:
        PageCount: 19
        StartPage: 2186
    Subjects:
      – SubjectFull: Mobile apps
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Scale analysis (Psychology)
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Smartphones
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Autism
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Emotions
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Teaching methods
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Educational technology
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Descriptive statistics
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Systematic reviews
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Mathematical models
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      – SubjectFull: Social skills
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      – SubjectFull: Communication
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      – SubjectFull: Asperger's syndrome
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      – SubjectFull: Video games
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      – SubjectFull: User interfaces
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      – SubjectFull: People with disabilities
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    Titles:
      – TitleFull: Evaluating Free Serious Game-Based Apps for Teaching Socio-Emotional Skills to Individuals on the Autism Spectrum: A Systematic Review of the Smartphone Markets.
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              M: 06
              Text: Jun2026
              Type: published
              Y: 2026
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