Avia Collaborates with University Engineering Program on Cognitive Health Study

AviaGames has partnered with Duke University's Pratt School of Engineering and its Product Lab to explore the potential of Solitaire Clash, a mobile skill-based card game, in supporting cognitive engagement and healthy aging. Running through May 2026, the research initiative will examine player behavior and how people interact with structured mobile game systems through student-led research and player interviews.

"Working with Duke allows us to deepen our understanding of our player community while supporting thoughtful, research-driven conversations around cognitive engagement and healthy aging," said AviaGames CEO Vickie Chen.

Research in this initiative aims to investigate the cognitive engagement effects that mobile gaming has on users. Players must maintain concentration during gameplay sessions because they make decisions throughout the game. The game presents challenges that require immediate responses, helping them stay focused during their gaming experience.

This research project will examine how skill-based gameplay affects players' ability to focus and make decisions while they play, as well as their need for social connection with other players. The research partnership will also study gameplay patterns for mobile games, helping to further understand player behavior and engagement. Results from this research will provide insights into how organized mobile games support mental focus during interactive entertainment, as well as contribute to discussions about how digital gaming helps adults maintain cognitive abilities as they age.

During this partnership, engineering program students will investigate how digital gaming environments affect player engagement through information processing and social interaction. People of all ages now play mobile games, which include various gameplay systems that determine their ability to maintain concentration and their degree of social interaction during gaming.

Solitaire Clash will serve as the main platform to understand how players interact with games and their habits. The students will study how people use skill-based mobile gameplay in their existing environment, which allows them to monitor user engagement patterns. Duke University Product Lab students will conduct their research through structured interviews, which will continue until May 2026, to study how Solitaire Clash players use the game to navigate its various challenges and features according to a student-led research project.

The game has achieved more than 60 million downloads, which allows us to track player engagement through their participation in 450 million monthly tournaments that reflect different levels of player activity. The high player engagement with Solitaire Clash has made it one of our top-performing games, which maintains its status as a leading title in its genre on both iOS and the Galaxy Store.

The study will also investigate how tournaments and events influence player motivation and participation. Through organized gameplay, players will be able to participate in different structured activities, including tournaments, events, and challenges.

Patterns of engagement with these structured activities will become evident as we study player responses to these systems. Players build ongoing connections with the game environment through regular participation in events and tournaments.

"Education in product development is most impactful when it mirrors real-world practice and mentorship, so partnering with an established company such as Avia brings an exciting and valuable learning experience to our students," stated Anna Wilson, Executive in Residence at Duke University Pratt School of Engineering. "Our goal is to conduct meaningful research and game-design prototyping that contributes to a better understanding of interactive social play and engagement in aging."

At AviaGames, we're excited to collaborate with the Duke University Pratt School of Engineering and its Product Lab to explore organized mobile gaming through Solitaire Clash. By looking at how gameplay mechanics and tournament formats shape player experiences and cognitive engagement, this initiative helps us better understand how people interact with mobile games across different age groups.

As the research continues through May 2026, player interviews and gameplay observations will uncover new insights into how people of different ages interact with and enjoy mobile games.

Ready to experience the game behind this research? Explore Solitaire Clash and discover how engaging mobile gameplay comes to life.