'Painwave': Scientists Develop Mobile Game That Kills Chronic Pain Without Drugs

In a breakthrough that could redefine how chronic pain is treated, Australian researchers have developed a mobile game that offers powerful pain relief, without the need for drugs. Called Painwave, the interactive digital therapy was created by scientists at the University of New South Wales (UNSW) and is already showing results comparable to conventional medications.

At its core, Painwave is a neurofeedback game designed to help patients manage chronic nerve pain from the comfort of their own homes. It uses an affordable EEG headset, priced at just under $200, to read the player’s brain activity. As users play the game on a tablet or mobile phone, it rewards healthier brainwave patterns associated with reduced pain perception.

According to findings published in the Journal of Pain, the results are promising. In a four-week trial, 75% of participants reported significant pain reduction, results that researchers say rival, or even surpass, those achieved with strong pharmaceutical painkillers.

What makes Painwave revolutionary is its focus on the thalamus, a deep brain structure that plays a key role in how we perceive pain. In chronic nerve pain sufferers, thalamic activity becomes disrupted, amplifying pain signals. The game is designed to retrain the brain by encouraging relaxation, focus, and positive visualisation, helping restore normal thalamic function.

“Painwave works by gradually regulating abnormal brain activity through mental techniques, not medication," said Professor Sylvia Gustin, lead researcher from UNSW, adding that it empowers patients to take control of their pain rather than relying solely on pills.

“For the first time, many users said they felt in charge of their own pain. That kind of psychological shift is huge," Dr Negin Hesam-Shariati from UNSW’s NeuroRecovery Research Hub added.

Unlike conventional medical devices that often come with high price tags, the Painwave headset is made using 3D-printed and open-source components, bringing down the cost and making the technology far more accessible. That’s a crucial aspect of the project, said Professor Gustin, who emphasised that the game was designed with global equity in mind, targetting communities with limited access to medication or clinical pain treatment.

While still in its early stages, Painwave could represent the future of chronic pain management, one that’s mobile, affordable, and rooted in neuroscience rather than pharmaceuticals.

The team is now preparing for larger trials and exploring regulatory pathways to bring the technology to broader markets. If successful, Painwave could soon be available as a prescription-free, game-based therapy, and a much-needed alternative for lakhs suffering from chronic nerve pain worldwide.