Habitica: Gamified Task Manager
Better habits only a game away; has purchases, messages.
Habitica: Gamified Task Manager
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A Lot or a Little?
The parents' guide to what's in this app.
What Parents Need to Know
Parents need to know that Habitica: Gamified Task Manager turns habit building, habit breaking, and productivity into a gaming experience. Habitica's terms of use indicate that users must be 13 or older. Players create an avatar who's sort of a mini-me motivator. Players can earn, not earn, or even lose points depending on their performance, and there are fun extras to help with motivation. It also includes message boards, battles with friends, and special interest groups for players to talk with each other. In-app purchases allow players to buy more gems rather than earn them. Read the app's privacy policy to find out about the types of information collected and shared.
Community Reviews
Rude staff, bad atmosphere
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What’s It About?
First create a username and an avatar to use HABITICA: GAMIFIED TASK MANAGER. Then select (or type) the habits or tasks that you'd like to gamify. You can add notes to the habit, check it as positive (to add to your day) or negative (to stop), tag it according to a category, and give yourself a timed reminder. As you check completed tasks, you earn points. Health points can increase or decrease depending on whether you do positive or negative health tasks. Use gold coins or gems to buy things for your avatar. Visit the Social areas to check your inbox for messages from friends, read or post messages in the Tavern, create or join a party, battle monsters and create challenges for you and your friends, or join a "Guild" for newbies to learn more details about what players can do in this multifaceted, gamified, habit-tracking experience. Push notifications send reminders throughout the day.
Is It Any Good?
This app will likely motivate teens and adults who love racking up points on video games, beating enemies, and checking leaderboards. Habitica: Gamified Task Manager may not be the prettiest app ever, but its old-school video game graphics and simple reward strategies are cool enough to keep players checked in often, which is exactly what people who are trying to make a change need: consistent tracking, lots of motivation, some competition, community support, and a little creative fun. Parents may want to set expectations around in-app purchases before downloading. And, as always with any app meant to motivate, the app's effectiveness will only be as good as the user's commitment to change their habits.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about how many forms of tech can help them form good habits and bad habits. From Fitbits to phone timers and food trackers to apps such as Habitica: Gamified Task Manager, tech supports may help you achieve behavior goals and changes (or can be a distraction).
Talk about goal-setting. What's the difference between a goal and a wish? What does a good goal look like? How many habits should you try to make or break at once? Ask your teen: Do the rewards or punishments in the app motivate you more? Why, or why not?
Identify a goal that you and your teen (or your whole family) can work on together, and brainstorm ways to achieve it. What's one thing that everyone in your family can do to become healthier, happier, less stressed, or more connected?
App Details
- Devices: iPhone, iPod Touch, iPad, Android
- Skills: Self-Direction: achieving goals, effort, goal-setting, identifying strengths and weaknesses, motivation, personal growth, self-reflection, set objectives, work to achieve goals, Emotional Development: moving beyond obstacles, persevering, self-awareness, Responsibility & Ethics: making wise decisions, Tech Skills: social media
- Pricing structure: Free (optional in-app purchases from $0.99 to $19.99)
- Release date: December 15, 2015
- Category: Productivity
- Publisher: HabitRPG, Inc
- Version: 1.6.5
- Minimum software requirements: iOS 8.2 or later; Android 4.0.3 and up
- Last updated: July 20, 2017
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