ADHD Apps and Games are They Really for ADHDs!
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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 help with focus, but it feels weird…”
I get it. We’re all looking for tools that actually work, not just look good on paper.
So I did what any slightly obsessive (and very curious) person with ADHD would do: I tested 29 apps. iPhone, Android, web-based, games… the whole shebang. Some were hyped. Some came recommended by professionals. All claimed to be designed with or for ADHD people.
Hazem Abbas
Spoiler alert: most of them sucked.
Why?
Because they were built by neurotypicals who think they get it. But they don’t.
You can tell right away when an app isn’t made by someone who lives with ADHD every day. It starts off fun, maybe even promising — then BOOM, it turns into a maze of clicks, confusing menus, and boring loops. You're like, "Wait, am I supposed to focus or hyperfocus now?"
ADHD brains are wired different. We’re pattern recognition machines. Show us something repetitive or fake-engaging once, and we spot the trap immediately. Our attention is like water — it flows where it wants, and if you try to force it into a box, it’ll just splash out.
Most of these apps feel like someone tried to build a cage around water.
Hazem Abbas
Here’s what I noticed:
- Too much organization – Ironically, the more structured the app was, the less likely I was to use it. We need flexibility, not another checklist.
- Boring fast – If it doesn't keep changing or adapting, our brain checks out. Like, instantly.
- Confusing navigation – So many clicks to get to anything useful. Who has the patience?
- Bad sound/music choices – Overstimulating or annoying sounds? No thanks. Some of us are already overwhelmed.
- Motivation gap – The app assumes you’re motivated to finish it. But if you have ADHD, motivation often comes after action, not before.
And honestly, a lot of these apps feel like therapy homework disguised as a game. Not helpful.
Hazem Abbas
But here’s the thing:
We deserve better. Tools made by us, for us. Apps that understand how chaotic, beautiful, and intense our minds can be. That's why I started writing about ADHD on our blog — not just because I’m a doctor and a software developer — but because I live it.
I’ve written dozens of articles trying to explain what it’s like inside our heads. And last year, I even brought my ADHD experience into the Global Game Jam, building a VR project that simulates what it feels like to navigate a world not built for us.
It wasn’t perfect, but it was honest.
Hazem Abbas
So what’s next?
If you’re building something for ADHDers — stop guessing. Bring us in. Let us design it with you. Or better yet, let us lead.
Hazem Abbas
Here’s what could help:
- Involve real ADHD users from the start – Not just for testing, but for ideation and design.
- Keep it flexible – Give options. Let us customize. One size does NOT fit all.
- Make it dynamic – Change things up. Surprise us. Boredom is death.
- Less friction – Fewer clicks, fewer steps, more flow.
- Sound and visuals matter – Test them with sensitive ADHD brains. Some of us are sensory-sensitive.
- Reward systems that feel real – Not gold stars. Something that actually feels satisfying.
Hazem Abbas
Honestly? This isn’t just about apps. It’s about understanding a different way of thinking. A different kind of mind.
We’re not broken. We’re not lazy. We’re not flawed.
We’re just not being met where we are.
So if you’re like me — a doctor, a dev, an ADHDer trying to make sense of this wild brain of ours — let’s keep pushing. Keep building. Keep sharing.
And please, stop sending me those 30-day habit tracker apps. I swear, I will hyperfocus on deleting them.
❤️
– Hamza
