# Gwakkamole — Brain training made fun > Game to train inhibitory control and executive functions. (iPhone/iPad app by New York University.) - Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/gwakkamole/id1313381651 (this page in markdown: same URL + `.md`) - Developer: [New York University](https://appshunter.io/developer/485666462) - Category: Games, Education - Price: Free - Rating: 4.80/5 from 14 App Store ratings · 5 written reviews indexed - Age rating: 4+ - Requires: iOS 12.0 · 169 MB - Languages: American English - Released: 2019-09-19 - Data updated: 2026-06-09 - Monetization: free - User reviews in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/gwakkamole/id1313381651/reviews.md ## What is Gwakkamole? Gwakkamole is a game designed to train inhibitory control, a subskill of executive functions. Inhibitory control involves being able to control one’s attention, behavior, thoughts, and/or emotions to override a strong internal predisposition or external lure, and instead do what’s more appropriate or needed (Diamond, 2013). Players need to smash avocados that have no hat or that tip their hat but avoid smashing avocados with spiky hats or with electric hats. How does this support learning? Executive functions refer to a set of top-down, goal-oriented cognitive processes that enable people to control, monitor and plan behaviors and emotions. Miyake and Friedman’s model supports a unity-and-diversity view of EF in that it incorporates the three distinct but related components of EF: inhibitory control, task-switching and updating (Miyake et al., 2000). What is the research evidence? Our research suggests that Gwakkamole is an effective way to train inhibitory control. Homer, B.D., Ober, T., Rose, M., MacNamara, A., Mayer, R., & Plass, J.L. (2019). Speed Versus Accuracy: Implications of Adolescents' Neurocognitive Developments in a Digital Game to Train Executive Functions. Mind, Brain, and Education, 13(1), 41–52. DOI: 10.1111/mbe.12189 Research has found that EF is related to performance in literacy and math along with long-term gains in school performance and academic readiness (Blair & Razza, 2007; Brock, Rimm-Kaufman, Nathanson, & Grimm, 2009; St Clair-Thompson & Gathercole, 2006; Welsh, Nix, Blair, Bierman, & Nelson, 2010) and that disparities in EF among preschool children from low-income versus high-income homes may contribute to the achievement gap (Blair & Razza, 2007; Noble, McCandliss, & Farah, 2007). This game is part of the Smart Suite, created by New York University’s CREATE lab in collaboration with the University of California, Santa Barbara, and The Graduate Center, CUNY. The research reported here was supported by the Institute of Education Sciences, U.S. Department of Education, through Grant R305A150417 to the University of California, Santa Barbara. The opinions expressed are those of the authors and do not represent views of the Institute or the U.S. Department of Education. ## Key features - Inhibitory control training - Executive function development - Engaging target-smashing gameplay - Research-backed cognitive training - Part of Smart Suite ## Recent user reviews (5 of 5) All indexed reviews: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/gwakkamole/id1313381651/reviews.md ### 2/5 — Hate the fact I can’t play my music while doing the game. *2025-12-04* Is there a way you can either make it so that I can play my own music or you use music where the frequency of the music may help too? ### 5/5 — Perfect game ! *2021-03-05* It really make your mind to be flexible and it does make your brain stressful at time with these games. But 100 percent would recommended if you are trying to improve brain flexibility ### 5/5 — Interesting *2020-02-06* As long as you can get through the beginning levels without deleting the app you will find it fun and challenging. There is a bug on level 19 that doesn't fill in the yellow stars after completed with a perfect score. ### 5/5 — Tricky game *2020-01-27* Only on level two but it’s gonna be tricky if the speed picks up. Fun game. ### 5/5 — Great, but wouldn’t unlock *2020-01-25* Like the game, but the levels won’t unlock or move to the next “world” like it looks like it’s supposed to in the App Store. I thought maybe I had to finish them all in one go, so I did but still nothing happens. Can only start on level one no matter what. *just deleted and re-downloaded, seems to be working correctly now ## Frequently asked questions about Gwakkamole ### What is Gwakkamole? Gwakkamole is a game designed to train inhibitory control, a subskill of executive functions. It involves smashing specific avocados while avoiding others to improve cognitive abilities. ### Is Gwakkamole free to play? Yes, Gwakkamole is completely free to download and play. It does not have any in-app purchases or advertisements. ### What devices support Gwakkamole? Gwakkamole is available on iPhone, iPad, and iPod devices. It is designed for iOS users looking for cognitive training. ### What is the age rating for Gwakkamole? Gwakkamole has an age rating of 4+, making it suitable for young children and older users alike. It focuses on fundamental cognitive skills. ### How often is Gwakkamole updated? The latest version of Gwakkamole is 1.4, last updated on February 5, 2026. This indicates a commitment to ongoing development and improvements. ### What are the main gameplay mechanics in Gwakkamole? Players must smash avocados that do not have a hat or that tip their hat. They must avoid smashing avocados with spiky or electric hats, requiring quick decision-making and impulse control. ### Does Gwakkamole offer offline play? The provided data does not specify if Gwakkamole supports offline play. However, as a cognitive training game, it is likely designed to be accessible without a constant internet connection. ### What do users think of Gwakkamole? Gwakkamole has a high rating of 4.8 stars from 14 ratings, suggesting positive user sentiment. Users appreciate its effectiveness in training cognitive skills. ## Version history (last 3 releases) ### 1.4 — 2026-02-05 - Changed Font to NYU Perstare - Fixed bugs - Implemented Unity security patch. ### 1.2 — 2020-10-02 Fixed issues with pause menu and when saving progress after going back to the main menu. ### 1.0 — 2019-09-20 No release notes. ## Apps similar to Gwakkamole | App | Rating | Price | Category | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | [Train your Brain Visuoespatial](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/train-your-brain-visuoespatial/id1451287016) | 4.6 (212) | Free | Games | | [Poly Rules!](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/poly-rules/id1115877374) | 4.8 (13) | Free | Games | | [Train the Brain - Coordination](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/train-the-brain-coordination/id1468451071) | 4.6 (98) | Free | Games | | [Neuro Runners](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/neuro-runners/id1435628595) | 4.6 (61) | Free | Games | | [NBack Game](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/nback-game/id1542512368) | 5.0 (22) | Free | Games | | [Train your brain - Attention](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/train-your-brain-attention/id1438711626) | 4.2 (204) | Free | Games | ## More apps by New York University - [NYU Mobile](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/nyu-mobile/id485666459) - [ConsultGeriRN](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/consultgerirn/id578360141) - [ConsultGeri: Dementia](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/consultgeri-dementia/id962437779) - [NYU Tandon Vision VR](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/nyu-tandon-vision-vr/id1097164648) - [StatsSims](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/statssims/id1111648635) - [NYU-moji](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/nyu-moji/id1202767844) All apps by New York University: https://appshunter.io/developer/485666462 ## Related topics [gwakkamole](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/gwakkamole) · [new york university](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/new-york-university) --- *Data collected daily from the US App Store and indexed by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/). User reviews are verbatim App Store reviews. Ratings, prices and chart positions refresh continuously; this snapshot is from 2026-06-09.*