Objective: Modern board and card game-based cognitive interventions and gamification practices showed effectiveness in boosting executive functions and decreasing behavioral problems in children. However, the combination of both game-based methods has not been tested. Therefore, the main aim of this study was to test the effectiveness of gamification in modern board and card game-based cognitive interventions in Spanish schoolchildren at risk of social exclusion. Materials and Methods: In this multicenter single-blind study with a quasi-experimental design, 176 schoolers (6-13 years old) were assigned to a gamified group (with a narrative context and a rewarding system) and 107 to a nongamified group (with no narrative context or rewarding system). The interventions were implemented in regular classes. Behavioral executive dysfunction was assessed using the Behavior Rating Inventory of Executive Function, Second Revision (BRIEF-2) (Teacher form), pre- and postintervention. Results: We found significant time effects in all BRIEF-2 domains with small and medium effect sizes (d = -0.35 to d = -0.62). The nongamified group showed significantly higher decreases in all measures than those who used gamification. Conclusions: It is possible that playing for the joy of playing in the nongamified group was enough motivation to focus on the task, while adding gamification elements did not favor greater effectiveness of the program.
Keywords: Behavioral executive dysfunctions; Gamification; Modern board and card games; Social exclusion risk.