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The beginning of a new year is a great time for a fresh start and organization can be the key to success. However, some of us need more help than others getting those pesky to-do lists done. If you want a fun way to stay motivated and focused, Habatica gamifies those tedious tasks.
Habatica
Habatica is a habit and productivity app created in 2013 by HabitRPG Inc. The app helps organize your day-to-day tasks like washing the dishes or flossing into various types of lists including habits, dailies, and to-dos. To make task management a little more exciting, Habatica incorporates an old-school RPG system that has the player create and level a character.
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Inspired by Retro RPGs
For each successfully completed task, the player receives experience points to level their character. Other rewards include gold, items, and achievements. Rewards can also include real-world goodies like watching an episode of your favorite show or a sweet treat. Additionally, for a little real-world cash, you can purchase gems and buy more vanity items for your character. Or for $4.99 get a monthly subscription that includes extra gems, drops, and more. Alternatively, the player’s character will lose health points for tasks that are not completed so make sure to check in daily.
At level 10, the player can choose a class from Warrior, Mage, Healer, or Rogue. Each class has its own set of skills which are based on the primary stat either, strength, constitution, perception, or intelligence. For example, a warrior does high levels of damage to bosses using strength but is slow to gain experience. These skills are important once a player is ready to begin questing.
Its Party Time
Once you have some levels under your belt, it may be time to go on a quest, but as any adventurer knows, it is dangerous to go alone. Either party with friends or reach out and find a group of like-minded strangers. The group works together by completing tasks that do damage to a challenging boss or collect required items. Once the big bad has been defeated and the quest completed, the entire party gets the loot. Quest rewards can be anything from gold and experience to eggs, potions, and gear.
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You Had Me at Pets
Finishing tasks will also yield eggs, potions, and food which are used to hatch and raise pets. That’s right, Habatica rewards you for tedious tasks with precious pixelated pals. An egg determines the type of animal while the potion determines the color. Once you have hatched a pet, level your new companion by feeding it. When you have leveled the pet enough, give it a saddle to upgrade it to a mount.
For the sake of transparency, you must know that I am a complete sucker when it comes to anything that involves pet collecting. Habatica has over 1,000 critters to collect including lions, tigers, bears, and everything in between. There are even wacky companions like virtual and food-themed pets.
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Our Adventure Ends Here
Before Habatica, I had never tried a task management app and honestly did not think I would care for it. I typically prefer the pages of my elaborately decorated planner because I get to use stickers and washi tape. However, the gaming elements really make me want to stick with this app. It may sound silly, but I am extremely motivated by those pixelated pets and armor sets.
Unfortunately, most of the better-looking gear is locked behind microtransactions and I would love to see more available through using the app. However, because the app is free, this is essentially how the developers make their money. If the app helped you out or even entertained you for a short while, why not treat yourself and support the developers?
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I definitely recommend Habatica for those scatterbrained or unmotivated gamers out there who need a little more structure in their lives. If anything can get a gamer to do something, it is the promise of a loot drop. Progress is slow in Habatica but it’s not a race, it is meant to develop healthy habits, which takes time. Although it is a little too early to see major habit changes, I look forward to utilizing this app to the fullest.
Habatica is now available for free in the Play Store and the App Store.
Take it easy, play it safe, and Happy New Year, gamers!
