A new digital dragon pet game inside a popular smoking cessation app is generating attention for its potential to help people quit. A study published in the Journal of Medical Internet Research found that this playful feature, called Inner Dragon, can complement quitting efforts within the Smoke Free app.
In the United States, smoking remains the leading cause of preventable death. Current health data show that more than 16 million Americans live with smoking-related diseases and about 480,000 deaths occur each year, underscoring the ongoing public health challenge.
Researchers evaluated Inner Dragon by integrating it into the Smoke Free app. The user is tasked with raising and nurturing the dragon, and the critter grows the longer the user stays smoke-free. Participants can customize the dragon’s appearance and earn extra points by stroking it, turning daily abstinence into a tangible, visually rewarding journey.
Experts note that many people download health apps but then abandon them after a short period, which limits their real-world impact. The Inner Dragon approach aims to convert a one-off download into a consistent daily routine that reinforces self-monitoring and positive reinforcement.
A randomized trial with 479 participants split into two groups compared outcomes with and without the game feature. Accessing Inner Dragon increased app activity by about 20 percent, and higher engagement was associated with a greater likelihood of quitting smoking.
The effects were especially pronounced among younger participants and those with lower incomes, suggesting that gamified elements could offer meaningful benefits to groups that face greater quitting challenges and may benefit most from engaging, low-cost incentives.
Quitting smoking reduces the risk of cancer and heart disease, and the study implies gamified tools like Inner Dragon could help more people adopt and maintain smoke-free lives. The potential for scalable digital health supports could lessen the long-term health burden on individuals and communities.
Earlier research indicates that continuing to smoke after a cancer diagnosis can substantially shorten life expectancy, highlighting the importance of effective cessation tools and support systems.
While the results are encouraging, researchers urge longer-term studies to confirm sustained quit rates and to assess how such gamified features perform in diverse real-world settings over time.