BetterACT
Coping with stress in a healthy way
Together with partners from Italy, Croatia, Romania and Ireland, we are working on a game that teaches youth workers the principles of Acceptence and Commitment Therapy (ACT). They can then use this knowledge within their work and transfer the ACT method to the young people with whom they work.
De power of BetterACT


Improving mental health with a game
Acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) is a form of cognitive behavioral therapy. It is a psychological intervention aimed at improving ‘psychological flexibility’. This kind of resilience ensures that people can stay calm and in touch with themselves, even when things are not going well or a situation is stressful.
How do you convey theory to become more emotionally resilient in a modern, attractive way? Especially for youth workers and vulnerable young people, it quickly sounds like yet another, woolly form of therapy. The serious game BetterACT makes the theory and exercises more concrete, active and attractive.
Zo hebben we het aangepakt
In collaboration with leading therapists who work with ACT therapy, the content and the game concept have been realized. The more the player learns about the fundamentals of ACT, the more beautiful the garden blossoms in the game. We were responsible for both the graphic design and the technical realization of the game. Special attention has been paid to the look and feel: calming colors, definitely no ‘clinical’ look and many round shapes.

Deze power-up hebben we gerealiseerd
Through the BetterACT game, players explore all the ingredients you need to become mentally resilient: Mindfulness, Values, Acceptance, Defusion, Self as Context, Dedicated Action and Self-Compassion. The game is available free of charge in no fewer than seven languages, so that youth work across Europe benefits from the results of the project. Curious? Download BetterACT from the project website.

Looking for behavioural change?

Also looking for a way to bring theory to life?
Mail bas@8d-games.nl
Feel free to contact Bas, game designer at 8D Games!
Launch your project together with us. We will work together with you, your target audience, and all involved to establish a solid foundation for your game or gamification. More competence, less risk.

This project contributes to SDG #8 and SDG#17. BetterACT contributes to the Sustainable Development Goals numbers 3 and 4 by providing an attractive and modern way to improve mental resilience. By using this game, vulnerable young people can learn the basics of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy in a safe and inviting environment. The calming colors and round shapes of the game make it more accessible, making it a powerful tool for improving mental health and quality of education.