Deepwell DTX has developed a virtual reality therapeutic app called Zengence, which is available on the Meta Quest store. The game combines elements of a guided meditation and a PG-rated action game, featuring lo-fi music, vibrant environments, and a lack of failure states. Players are tasked with revealing invisible enemies, known as Wraiths, through rhythmic breathing exercises using their VR headset’s microphone. The game aims to engage players in a focused state, similar to the “Tetris effect,” where they can temporarily realign their brains through intense concentration.
The central model behind Zengence is to engage the player in a flow state, where they are fully immersed in the game and lose track of time and effort. By triggering this cognitive state, players can learn up to 40 times faster than usual and potentially internalize coping skills and lessons on a subconscious level. The game is designed to provide a sense of agency to players, allowing them to control their level of participation and engagement. Douglas, the founder of Deepwell DTX, emphasizes the importance of engaging players in a simulated stressful situation that they can fully control.
Zengence is the first project from Deepwell, co-founded by Ryan Douglas alongside Mike Wilson and Dr. Sam Browd. The team has worked with various professionals, including neuroscientists and video game developers, to create the game. With a budget of under $4 million, Zengence aims to address stress and mental health issues through its unique combination of gameplay and therapeutic elements. The game is continuously evolving based on player feedback to broaden its approach and mechanics to help with other mental health issues such as anxiety and hypertension.
Douglas highlights the potential of video games to have therapeutic value, even if the creators did not originally intend for them to be therapeutic. The team at Deepwell is focused on tapping into the intrinsic therapeutic nature of fun and using data to enhance the player’s experience and overall well-being. Zengence is not just a game but a lab for exploring the intersection of gaming, mental health, and therapeutic applications. Moving forward, the team plans to continue evolving the game to blur the lines between entertainment and therapy, integrating therapeutic elements seamlessly into the gameplay experience.
