Learning to read is a complex and multifaceted process, involving both
language-specific abilities, such as phonological awareness, and domaingeneral
cognitive skills, such as attentional control and working memory.
Although the contribution of domain-general skills to reading
development is increasingly recognized, few interventions have directly
targeted these foundations. In this presentation, I will introduce Legends
of Hoa'manu (LoH), a video game-based intervention designed to
strengthen executive functions through action-based mechanics, adaptive
difficulty, and an engaging narrative structure. I will present findings
from the Edugame randomized controlled trial, in which 311 secondgrade
children (Italian and French speakers) were assigned to either the
LoH intervention or an active control condition. Reading and cognitive
skills were assessed at pre-test, post-test, and six-month follow-up using
our novel Computerized Reading-Related Assessment Battery (CRAB), a
parallel-form, cross-linguistic tool developed to capture key linguistic
(e.g., phonological awareness) and cognitive precursors of reading.
Results showed that LoH significantly enhanced text reading fluency,
with improvements sustained over time. Gains were observed
consistently across languages with different orthographic transparency.
These findings highlight the potential of game-based cognitive training to
strengthen the foundations of reading acquisition and offer a scalable
complement to traditional literacy education