Can Video Games Actually Help Kids With ADHD Focus?
Parents often ask us, “My child can focus for hours on video games. Why can’t they focus on schoolwork?”
It is a great question, and one researchers are asking too.
A recent study published in Frontiers in Psychiatry looked at dozens of “serious games,” which are video games created to help children with ADHD strengthen attention, memory, and self-control. The idea sounds exciting: kids love games, so why not make them educational and therapeutic?
But the results of this large review tell a more complicated story.
What the Research Found
Researchers reviewed 37 studies on 22 different games created to “train the brain.” Some games focused on reaction time and ignoring distractions. Others encouraged memory skills, planning, or calm breathing.
The findings were mixed. A few children showed improvements in focus or impulse control while playing, but those gains did not always show up in real life, such as during homework, conversations, or class time.
In short, the games sometimes helped kids practice attention in the moment, but the benefits rarely lasted beyond the screen.
That does not mean these tools have no value. It simply means they work best as a small piece of a bigger support system that includes structure, coaching, and consistency.
What This Means for Parents
If you are thinking about using focus or “brain training” games at home, here are a few things to keep in mind:
Use them as a tool, not a fix. Games can be fun ways to build motivation and confidence, but they will not replace real-life routines or Executive Function coaching.
Talk about what they learn. Ask your child how they stayed focused during the game and brainstorm ways to use those same strategies for homework, chores, or organization.
Look for real-world progress. The best sign a tool is working is not a high score, but calmer mornings, better planning, and fewer battles over assignments.
Keep screen time balanced. Even educational apps need limits. Make sure gaming fits into a healthy routine that includes sleep, exercise, and downtime away from devices.
Apps Families Often Try
There are many options on the market that promise to help kids with focus and attention. Here are a few you may have heard about:
EndeavorRx
Best For: Ages 8–17
What It Does: A prescription-only video game that targets attention skills.
What to Know: The only FDA-cleared digital treatment for pediatric ADHD. Works best as part of a full treatment plan.
Propel
Best For: Teens and adults
What It Does: Games designed to improve attention and impulse control.
What to Know: Fun and accessible, though results vary by user.
CogniFit
Best For: All ages
What It Does: Personalized brain-training games that target memory and logic.
What to Know: Can help with focus practice, but benefits may stay within the app.
Impulse – Brain Training
Best For: General audience
What It Does: Short daily “mental workouts” for attention and speed.
What to Know: Good for consistency, but not ADHD-specific.
Lumosity
Best For: General audience
What It Does: Brain games for memory, attention, and processing.
What to Know: Easy to use, but not proven to create lasting change.
Habitica
Best For: All ages
What It Does: Turns daily habits and to-do lists into a motivational game.
What to Know: Great for building routines and accountability rather than training focus directly.
These tools can make practice more engaging, but they work best when paired with human connection and guidance.
The Illuminos Perspective
At Illuminos, we know kids with ADHD thrive when they are supported by structure, encouragement, and accountability. Games can help spark motivation, but it takes consistent coaching and reflection to build lasting habits.
Our Executive Function coaching helps students strengthen the same skills these apps aim to target, such as focus, organization, time management, and follow-through, but in a way that connects directly to their real-world challenges and successes.
When technology and guidance work together, students learn to focus not only when the game is on, but when it truly matters — during school, homework, and everyday life.
Reference:
Frontiers in Psychiatry (2025). Serious Games for Children and Adolescents With ADHD: A Systematic Review and Content Analysis.
