Mobile games are increasingly being studied as interactive environments where players practice decision-making, attention, and engagement. A research collaboration between Avia and Duke University Pratt School of Engineering Product Lab is exploring these dynamics by examining player behavior in the mobile game Solitaire Clash. The study, which will continue through May 2026, focuses on how players interact with game systems, respond to gameplay challenges, and remain engaged across multiple sessions.

As mobile games reach audiences across a wide range of age groups, researchers see them as a valuable setting for behavioral research. Structured gameplay environments provide an opportunity to observe how players process information, stay motivated, and interact with digital systems over time. According to CEO Vickie Chen, the collaboration allows Avia and the research team to better understand player engagement while contributing to conversations about how thoughtful game design may support cognitive engagement, particularly among older adults.

For this research, Solitaire Clash serves as the central platform for observation. The game builds on the familiar Klondike solitaire format and adapts it for mobile devices with structured competitive gameplay. Because the rules and gameplay conditions remain consistent for all players, the environment offers a reliable way for researchers to observe how individuals approach challenges and develop their own gameplay strategies.

Students from the Duke University Product Lab are leading a series of structured interviews with Solitaire Clash players during the research period. These interviews help the team learn how players interpret different features in the game, how they approach decision-making while playing, and what encourages them to return to the game.

The scale of the game also contributes to the study. Solitaire Clash has exceeded 60 million downloads and hosts roughly 450 million tournaments each month, placing it among the leading titles in its category on iOS and the Galaxy Store. With such a large player base, researchers are able to observe behavioral patterns across a wide range of players and levels of engagement.

Another focus of the research involves understanding how events and structured gameplay systems influence long-term participation. Tournaments, recurring challenges, and mini-games such as Flower Frenzy and Puzzle Mania create ongoing opportunities for interaction. By analyzing how players respond to these features, researchers hope to gain deeper insight into what motivates continued engagement in skill-based mobile games.