Why ADHD Apps & Games Should Be Built by People With ADHD? Because We Know What Actually Works

Let me tell you a story.

A few months ago, I was helping my friend who has ADHD find some apps to help him stay focused and organized. I downloaded almost 50 apps and games that promised to “help with ADHD.” Some had cute designs. Some looked fancy. A few even had cool names.

But nearly all of them… were terrible.

Not just a little bad, most felt actively frustrating for someone with ADHD.

They were full of tiny buttons, confusing menus, crowded navigations, endless swipes, and dull sounds. The interfaces looked busy but didn’t really help. The games started off fun but got boring in five minutes. No real challenge. No dopamine hits. No flow.

And guess the worst part? It was clear that no one designing these apps actually understood what it’s like to live with ADHD.

ADHD Apps and Games are They Really for ADHDs!

So, I’ve been getting these messages from my friends — all ADHDers like me — asking me to check out this new app or game made “for us.” They send them over with a mix of hope and skepticism. Like, “Hey Hamza, can you try this one? It’s supposed to

MEDevel.com | Open-source Apps for Healthcare and EnterpriseHazem Abbas

So I asked myself: Why are so many ADHD apps built by people who don’t have ADHD, and clearly have little idea what it’s like to live with it?

Because if they did have it, they’d know:

• Too much structure can feel oppressive , not helpful.
• Endless clicks and slides? That kills motivation before you even start.
• Boring visuals and repetitive sounds? Total snooze zone.
• Inconsistent design and unclear workflows? That’s a fast track to brain fog.

ADHD brains need stimulation, clarity, and flow, not rigidity or over-designed chaos.

That’s why I believe apps and games made for ADHDers should be designed and tested by ADHDers.

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MEDevel.com | Open-source Apps for Healthcare and EnterpriseHazem Abbas

Because We Know What Annoys Us

It’s not about being picky. It’s about how our brains work.

Someone without ADHD might think a soft chime sound is calming. But for us, it could be annoying after the third time. Or worse, stressful.

A designer might add extra steps to make a task feel “gamified.” For us, that can feel like pointless work, not fun.

Only someone who lives with ADHD truly gets how small things, like button size, color contrast, sound effects, animation speed, or menu layout, can completely change the experience.

And guess what?

Most of the apps I tried didn’t even do basic A/B testing. They were built once, released, and left as-is. Like they thought one-size-fits-all.

Spoiler: It doesn’t.

If they had done some basic A/B testing, they might have gotten very different results!

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MEDevel.com | Open-source Apps for Healthcare and EnterpriseHazem Abbas

ADHD Games Need Real Fun, Not Fake Rewards

Let’s talk about games now.

• Many ADHD-focused games try to be educational or therapeutic. Sounds good, until you realize they’re basically flashcards with coins.
• No real challenge. No surprise. No rush when you finish something.
• Games need to grab attention, keep it, reward it, and evolve with it.

And for that, you need creativity, variety, and a deep understanding of what makes ADHDers tick.

Which brings me to what I’m doing right now.

I'm Building an ADHD App, Designed With ADHDers, For ADHDers

I’m working with a team of developers, designers, and thinkers, many of whom also have ADHD — to build a new kind of ADHD experience for Teknofest .

It’s a VR app.

Yes, VR.

Why?

Because we want to build something that feels like it was made for us — not at us.

We’re focusing on immersion, interactivity, and intuitive design. No fake rewards. No confusing flows. Just clean visuals, meaningful feedback, and challenges that actually engage.

We’re also doing real user testing, with real ADHD users, and making changes based on how it feels to use the app, not just how it looks.

Because when you have ADHD, feeling matters more than function alone.

So Here's My Ask

If you're building anything for ADHDers — whether it’s an app, a game, or a tool, ask yourself:

Have I talked to actual ADHD people? Have I tested this with them? Did I listen?

Because trust me, we’ll know if you didn’t.

We’ve seen the shortcuts. We’ve felt the frustration.

And now, we’re building better.

So next time you see an ADHD-friendly app or game, ask yourself:
Was this made for us… or just about us?

There’s a big difference.

P.S. If you’re part of the ADHD tribe, developer, designer, thinker, or just someone tired of bad apps, let’s connect. Let’s build something real together.

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MEDevel.com | Open-source Apps for Healthcare and EnterpriseHazem Abbas