When you’re struggling with negative self-talk, it often doesn’t make sense to spend a lot of time on your smartphone. In the midst of short-form media and constant negative news, it can be difficult to adopt a calm and present mindset.
Luckily, there are a number of ambient mobile games that can calm the chattering thoughts in your head and help you embrace a state of mindfulness. These games offer an immersive experience with beautiful and minimalistic designs, simple controls, and soothing soundtracks that will help you get into a meditative state. Here is a list of the best ambient games to keep an eye on your phone.
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1. Alto’s Odyssey
Alto’s Odyssey takes you on a sandboarding journey through picturesque landscapes as you venture through sand dunes, travel through great canyons and explore hidden temples. This endless running game features nature-inspired graphics, a soothing soundtrack, and two different game modes.
In the vast landscape of the desert, it’s easy to lose yourself in the moment and watch the sunset and sunrise in the gradually changing environment.
With no set goals, you can immerse yourself in the present moment without thinking about a goal to achieve or points to achieve. There is only you and the endless desert.
The game’s popular soundtrack is accompanied by the sounds of nature: rain, distant birds, and the soothing sound of your sandboard as you slide through the desert, inviting you to a real-world in-game experience.
Alto’s Odyssey is the perfect game to enjoy a mindful and atmospheric journey into another world.
Downloads: Alto’s Odyssey for Android | iOS (Free, offers in-app purchases)
2. Infinite loop
Infinity Loop is a hassle-free puzzle game that has you connecting different tiles to create a series of geometric shapes.
The ultra-minimalist design and lack of distracting features help focus your pure attention on the puzzles. Each puzzle features a pastel colored background behind tiles that rotate into different symmetrical patterns.
Its immersive soundtrack helps keep your attention in the present moment, with repetitive rhythms and no interrupting sound effects to disrupt your concentration.
There is no time limit for the puzzles. It also lacks a score-tracking strategy, and while some avid gamers might find this annoying, the removal of stats and progress-tracking features helps embrace mindfulness. All of the attention is focused on the gameplay itself and not on goals and achievements to unlock.
Infinity Loop lives up to its name as an endless puzzle adventure.
Downloads: Infinity Loop for Android | iOS (Free, offers in-app purchases)
3. CircloO
CircloO is a simple physics-based puzzle game with stripped down features, simple game mechanics and a soothing soundtrack. In each level you must navigate a ball through a maze of shapes to reach a series of endpoints. There’s no chance of dying in each level, which means you don’t have to worry about losing your progress. You can also proceed at your own pace and enjoy a relaxing puzzle journey.
Intuitive touch controls revolve around just two actions: left and right, so your brain doesn’t have to think as much. The majority of the levels are based on a trial and error approach: if you (the ball) don’t quite reach a platform, just roll back down and have unlimited attempts to try again.
The relaxing puzzle adventure isn’t visually stunning either; The minimal color palette (with two colors per level) helps increase your attention and focus on the gameplay itself. This is accompanied by the soothing, free-falling movement of the ball rolling in space.
CircloO does not require internet access either.
Downloads: CircloO for Android | iOS (Free, offers in-app purchases)
4. Cats are liquid
Cats Are Liquid is a cute 2D platformer where you, as a cat, travel through 120 different rooms with your friends. The main trick of the game is the ability to transform into liquid to squeeze through different shapes in the abstract colorful world.
Unlike the frenetic world presented in popular platform games like Mario, Cats Are Liquid keeps it simple with its minimal design to avoid overstimulation. Each element is introduced gradually, so you don’t get thrown in at the deep end and can move through the game at a leisurely pace.
If you want to remove a challenging component from the game, you can fully engage in a mindful experience in the level editor. Here you can create level packs and design abstract worlds with the simple set of shapes. The editor gives you the creative freedom to mindfully explore your artistic side in an aesthetic editing environment with an ambient soundtrack.
Downloads: Cats are Liquid for Android | iOS (free)
5. Mini Metro
Mini Metro is a fun and entertaining simulation game in which you design your own subway system to transport passengers. The game is as simple as drawing lines between stations, but there’s a strategic element to transporting the most passengers each day.
As busy as train stations can be in real life, this game shows the complete opposite. As you try different combinations, you can watch the colored trains slowly pass between the stations and watch the days go by. Random city growth means each game is unique, meaning you can approach each game with a fresh and open mind.
Several game modes are available, including endless mode (which breaks the limits of normal mode) and creative mode (for an unlimited number of locomotives).
If this game suits your taste, you might like these other mobile games for a calming experience.
Downloads: Mini Metro for Android ($0.99) | iOS ($3.99)
Play these mobile games to lose yourself in the moment
It’s easy to get lost in the atmospheric worlds of these games. The minimalist, aesthetic design in each game helps to create a stress-free environment that transports you to another world where all your real-life worries can be forgotten. And with reduced features and easy-to-learn controls, your brain has less to think about. As a result, you can fully enjoy the gameplay without any distractions. Play these games for a relaxing and mindful adventure.
