The journey of playing: a qualitative evaluation of 'Maze Out,' a serious game for eating disorders

Many people with eating disorders find it hard to connect with digital tools made to support their treatment, especially when these tools don’t reflect their personal experiences. In this study, we looked at how a specially designed video game called Maze Out was used as part of regular treatment for people with eating disorders in Denmark. What makes Maze Out different is that it was co-created by people with eating disorders, health professionals, and game designers. We interviewed seven patients and a group of caregivers (including family members, clinicians, and support workers) about their experiences with the game.Patients said the game gave them a space to be themselves, helped them feel more in control, and made them think differently about their struggles. Caregivers said the game helped them better understand what the person they cared about was going through and made it easier to talk about difficult topics. Overall, the game helped both groups make sense of eating disorders in a new way, suggesting that digital tools like this can improve understanding and support in treatment.