Life Simulations:

The Sims 2 Mobile:

As a player of the Sims 2 Mobile game for cell phones, you must manage the life, motives, and moods of your Sims, and keep them happy as they furnish their homes, take jobs, and build relationships in the community. You choose the goals and character of your Sims, who will grow older, face fears, and generate memories as they progress through the game.

Bubu Avatar:

Bubu Avatar is a cross between a mobile tamagotchi and adventure game. The player is faced with the challenge of taking care of Bubu. Your job is to keep Bubu in a good mood and train him for the final battle with the Rabbit Klingorian Killer.

Applications for C-CBT:

The Sims’ element of mood management and behavior algorithms that include aspirations, fears, and personality could serve as an interesting way to teach children the oftentimes direct associations between behaviors and emotions. With the correct programming, the avatars could be designed to react to activities and tasks similar to those presented in cognitive behavioral therapy for anxiety.

A simulation similar to Bubu Avatar, in which the player must maintain the mood of the avatar and train it to learn the skills presented in cognitive behavioral therapy, could be an engaging way to teach the skills to the player herself. This could make the player aware of the variations in her own emotions and the behaviors that help manage them.