Stress Relief Game Apps 2018 - Part 4 - Calming Cross Platform

By Anna Hazard

View the Rest of the Series

Part 1 : iOS Exclusives
Part 2 :Android Exclusives
Part 3 : Cross Platform (Challenging)

Introduction

Here are a selection of cross platform game apps for iOS and Android smartphones & tablets that are free to play or have inexpensive start-up costs of $5 or less. If a particular game tickles your fancy, many users have found that upgrading to an ad-free version greatly increases the therapeutic soothing effect without further disrupting the app's atmosphere with outside advertising.
 
The focus this time is on games that are explicitly made to combat stress by being calming, sedative, or otherwise helping to build a meditative state of mind. Game play is generally slow, idle, or can be taken at the user's own pace without any additional penalties or stressful challenges. Relaxing visuals, sound effects & music tracks, as well as animations are a hallmark of these games.

Cross Platform Apps

Samorost 3

• iOS | Android | Website ($4.99)
• A tap & touch puzzle game based around exploring nine different richly detailed worlds full of hand painted designs. With a soothing sound track and unstructured game play with no pressure or no time limits, this adventure-style game is a relaxing journey of discovery for those who enjoy poking, prodding, and pulling at whatever catches their eye at their own pace.

Zenge

• iOS | Android | Website ($0.99)
• A relaxing puzzle game without timers, points, or distracting add-ons that tells the story of a traveler trapped between worlds through gentle ambient music and colorful paintings. The interface is simple with puzzles ranging from easy to moderately difficult and are based upon spatial visualization & object order manipulation. 

My Oasis - Calming and Relaxing Idle Clicker Game

• iOS | Android | Website (Free with ads & in-app purchases)
• A click, touch, and tap game with a relaxed atmosphere, in My Oasis the user slowly expands their island by interacting with the surrounding wild life and choosing soothing music chords that control effects such as the weather. Works as a virtual zen garden that can be watched for its calming visuals even without user input. Ads can be removed and extra bonus items bought through in-app purchases of $0.99 - $19.99.

TaoMix 1 & 2 - Relax, Sleep, Focus

• iOS [1, 2] | Android [1, 2] | Website (Free with in-app purchases)
• Build your own custom ambient backgrounds & soundscapes by blending together nature sounds, relaxing melodies, and other ambient noises. Useful for meditation, stress relief, or helping the user fall asleep. Includes an easy to use interface with minimalistic design with a timer for sleep use. TaoMix 2 offers more options such as adding in your own recorded sounds & the ability to generate random tracks without the user's input. Access to all features & sounds requires a one time premium upgrade.

Jellyfish Heaven - Relax Time

• iOS | Android | Website (Free with in-app purchases)
• A soothing virtual aquarium pet app  that allows you to choose the type & number of realistic jellyfishes to populate your aquarium which can be interacted with a touch. Jellyfish design and color can be changed through interactive taps with no feeding nor aquarium cleaning necessary. The hypnotic movement of the jellyfish as well as relaxing sound effects & background music can help the user fall asleep as well as relieve stress. Upgrades for more jellyfish and to remove ads can be attained through one-time in-app purchases of $0.99 - $2.99

Neko Atsume

• iOS | Android | Website (Free with in-app purchases)
• Collect over 40 varieties of cute cartoon styled cats by luring them into your virtual yard using snacks, toys, and other items. Relax by watching or taking pictures of cavorting cats with no mess or fuss. Unlike with other pet apps, grooming, feeding, and cleaning after the cats are not required. Extra premium treats for more reliably attracting the rarer kitties can be bought for $0.99 - $3.99 as in-app purchases.

Pixel Art : Color by Number

• iOS | Android | Website (Free with in-app purchases)
• Relax and zone out while coloring a variety of 2D and 3D artwork in pixel style. Artwork is available in a wide variety of subjects and the interface is simple & intuitive with various art tools available such as Magic Wand & Color Splash. Removal of ads and access to all parts of the app including daily updates with new artwork to color is available through a renewable premium subscription.

Pigment - Adult Coloring Book

• iOS | Android | Website (Free with in-app purchases)
• Created to help provide stress relief & mindfulness in adults, this coloring app focuses on creating a realistic coloring experience using various in-app tools such as pencils, markers, and paint brushes (which can be further enhanced using stylus tools such as the Apple Pencil). Includes a large 2000+ image library that is updated weekly with a variety of styles & subject matters as well as the ability to import your own images for coloring. Premium subscription required for access to the entire library of images as well as extra brushes & color palettes.