Millions of people struggle daily with healthcare routines that feel burdensome, complex, and disconnected from their lives. This disconnect often leads to poor adherence and outcomes across numerous health conditions. At the intersection of video games and healthcare, tech entrepreneur Maria Mesa has discovered a powerful solution. As founder of Alternova, a company building digital products for healthcare organizations, Maria believes the missing ingredient in modern healthcare is surprisingly simple: play.
Finding Joy in Healthcare Engagement
Healthcare typically conjures images of sterile environments, complex instructions, and difficult lifestyle changes. Maria sees this fundamental problem clearly. “Healthcare often feels like the opposite [of playing]. Rigid routines, complex information, big lifestyle changes, and very little real support,” she explains. This observation led her to question conventional approaches. “Why don’t we approach it differently? Why don’t we use play and the science behind the most engaging video games to help people want to take care of themselves?”
The answer lies in understanding what makes games so compelling. Maria points to global phenomenon Pokémon Go as a prime example of gaming principles driving real-world behavior. “This mobile game became a global phenomenon, mainly because it motivated millions of people to get off their couch, move, explore the world and make new friends,” she notes.
Unlocking Game Mechanics That Motivate
The success of Pokémon Go wasn’t accidental. Maria breaks down three key elements that made it work. “The first one is moving, actually moving in real life is how you progress in the game. You get off your couch, you walk into the real world, and that’s how you unlock digital rewards in the game,” she explains. This direct connection between physical activity and digital progress creates powerful motivation. Collection and evolution provide another powerful driver. “There’s always something new to collect. A new Pokémon, evolution power-ups, potions. This triggers a strong sense of mastery and ownership,” Maria points out. Perhaps most importantly, the social layer creates lasting engagement. “People connect through gyms, through battles, through shared goals. They meet in a lake, they meet in the park, and they just get to make new friends without even having the intention to do so.”
Translating Gameplay to Wellness
Maria showcases Fitness RPG as another example translating gaming principles to healthcare. “This game is essentially a gamified fitness tracker where your real-life steps power your in-game avatar,” she explains. The mechanics are straightforward: “Every step you take gives you energy. Energy to train and evolve your team of heroes.” Beyond simple gamification, the approach adds meaning to physical activity. “You’re not just walking, you’re completing quests. You’re saving a fantasy world,” Maria notes. Progress loops reinforce behavior change. “Just like Pokémon, your character grows stronger. You can see your effort translate into power and visualize progress creating a powerful motivation loop.”
The transformation from mundane health tasks to engaging experiences changes the fundamental nature of healthcare compliance. Maria puts it simply: “This game has transformed the fitness ecosystem from a daily chore into a daily mission. Instead of just saying, go just walk 10,000 steps, the game says, power up your hero, complete this quest, and save your team. And then behavior change naturally follows.”
Designing Therapeutic Games That Work
At Alternova, Maria is applying these principles to address serious health conditions. “We are currently designing and developing a video game-based intervention for kids that have ADHD,” she shares. The traditional approach – repetitive cognitive exercises or medication – often creates friction. “Often these exercises are practiced in worksheets with parents guiding and annoying kids. And it can be tedious for everyone.” Alternova’s solution transforms the therapeutic experience. “The product we’re building transforms these exercises. They become challenges and keys that kids need to unlock levels and progress in an actual, genuine, fun video game,” Maria explains. “The exercises become part of their quest, part of the play, and they are able to reframe work or therapy into an engaging step to unlock a real game.”
Maria’s vision extends beyond simple point systems or badges. “Gamification isn’t just about adding points or budgets anymore. It’s about designing actual experiences that are truly seamless, intuitive, motivational, and also even fun,” she emphasizes. The core philosophy at Alternova centers on working with human psychology, not against it. “We believe that health solutions should work with human behavior and not against it. This is why we design products that integrate seamlessly, tapping into our natural drive for curiosity as human beings.” For Maria, the future of healthcare lies in embracing our natural tendencies toward play, curiosity, and social connection. Her invitation to healthcare innovators is straightforward: make healthcare smarter, more inclusive, and actually fun.
Follow Maria Mesa on LinkedIn to see how she’s transforming healthcare through game design.
