Calm games
Calm games
Short, quiet games made for a few minutes of rest. We're developing them alongside our puzzle games as part of our aim to help people feel less stressed and anxious from day to day.
74%
of UK adults said that at some point in the previous year they had felt so stressed they were overwhelmed or unable to cope. Mental Health Foundation, 2018.
Why we're making them
When people feel stressed, a lot of them reach for their phone. Most of the games on it are built to do the opposite of calming you down.
Timers, fail screens, streaks that break, rewards that disappear if you don't come back tomorrow: these keep people playing, and they also keep people on edge. We know how they work because we design puzzle games ourselves, and we think the same skills can be turned the other way.
So reducing everyday stress and anxiety is now part of what Glenpixel is for. Our calm games are the first piece of that work. They are deliberately small: something to open for a few minutes, that ends on its own and asks nothing of you afterwards.
The rules every calm game follows
These are fixed. If a feature breaks one of them, it doesn't go in.
No clock
Nothing counts down. You can stop halfway through a breath and nothing happens.
Nothing to lose
No fail screens, no lives, no score to beat and no leaderboard.
A natural end
Sessions are short, roughly one to five minutes, and finish on their own so stopping feels normal.
No pressure to come back
No streaks, no rewards that expire, and no notifications telling you that you've missed a day.
Nothing for sale mid-session
No adverts while you play and no offers that interrupt you.
Gentle sound, optional
Soft audio and light vibration that can each be switched off. Every session works in silence.
Slow, predictable motion
Nothing flashes or jumps. Reduced motion and colour-blind settings are included.
No health data
The games don't ask how you feel and don't send anything about your mood or health to us.
Try one minute
Slow breathing with a longer out-breath is a widely used way to relax. This is a simple version: in for four seconds, out for six, six times.
Stop if you feel light-headed or uncomfortable, and go back to breathing normally. This exercise is not medical advice.
Six slow breaths, about one minute.
Breathe in through your nose while the circle grows, and out slowly while it shrinks. If it feels uncomfortable, stop and breathe normally.
What we're prototyping
Four kinds of calm game are in early development. Some will become games of their own; some may end up as quiet modes inside our other games.
- 01
Breathing
Short guided sessions with a shape to breathe along with, like the one on this page.
- 02
Pattern play
Arranging symmetrical shapes with no goal and no move limit. The idea came out of building Rangoli Rush.
- 03
Sorting and tidying
Small, finite tasks that end with everything in its place.
- 04
Slow worlds
Watching something grow at its own pace, with nothing to defend and nothing to lose.
Being careful about it
Wellbeing is an area where it's easy to promise too much. We'd rather promise less.
- Honest descriptions
- We won't describe our calm games as therapy or treatment, or claim they cure, prevent or diagnose anything.
- Tested with people
- Each game will be played by testers before release, and we'll change or drop anything that people find stressful rather than calming.
- Help is always signposted
- Each calm game will include a link to support services like the ones below, in the settings menu, without having to search for it.
- Open to expert input
- We want to hear from wellbeing organisations, clinicians and researchers who can tell us where we're getting it wrong.
If you need to talk to someone
These services are free and confidential. They are not connected to Glenpixel.
- Emergency services999If you or someone else is in immediate danger.
- NHS 24 (Scotland) and NHS 111 (England and Wales)111Urgent help when it isn't an emergency, day or night.
- Samaritans116 123Free to call, any time of day or night. You can also email [email protected].
- Breathing Space (Scotland)0800 83 85 87Free, confidential listening service, open evenings and weekends.
- ShoutText SHOUT to 85258Free, confidential text support across the UK, any time.
Outside the UK, please contact your local emergency number or health services.
Questions
Are these medical or therapeutic games?
No. They are relaxation games. They are not medical devices, they haven't been clinically tested, and they aren't a treatment for anxiety, depression or any other condition. Please don't use them instead of professional help.
When will the first one be released?
We haven't announced a date. When there's something ready to test, we'll post it on this page.
Who are they for?
Anyone who wants a few quiet minutes: on a break, on the way home, before sleep. They aren't designed for young children.
Can I help test them?
Yes. Email us and we'll get in touch when testing starts. If you work for a wellbeing organisation or in research and would like to talk, we'd like to hear from you too.