Best Games for Anxiety (15+ List)
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OptimistMinds
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In this blog, we are going to explore some of the best games for anxiety. Most of these are apps you can download on your phone. Some of these can either exclusively or additionally be played on their website. Play these to distract yourself and defuse your anxious energy.
What are the Best Games for Anxiety?
Some of the best games for anxiety and stress are listed here:
- Ballz (Apple & Google)
- Pokemon Cafe (Apple & Google)
- Candy Crush (Apple & Google)
- Bubble Shooter (Apple & Google)
- Super Hexagon (Apple)
- Slidey (Apple & Google)
- HEX (Apple & Google)
- One More Brick (Apple & Google)
- Home Sheep Home
- Personal Zen (Apple & Google)
- Paper Toss (Apple & Google)
- AntiStress Anxiety Relief Game (Apple & Google)
- My Oasis (Apple & Google)
- Energy (Google)
- Sort It 3D (Apple & Google)
- Monument Valley (Google)
Play these Games to Reduce Anxiety
When we play games, our minds have a distraction from anxious thoughts. Idle minds are kept engaged with entertainment. Most of all, when we win or complete a challenge, we get a dopamine release. Together, these effects make it possible for games to reduce anxiety.
In today’s day and age of technology, even our games are mostly found behind screens. Here is a list of the best games you can play on your smart device to keep your anxiety in check:
Ballz (Apple & Google)
Anxiety is a broad term for a range of disorders, from GAD to social anxiety to specific phobias. Its symptoms can be both physical (chest pain, palpitations) and mental (inability to stop worrying, fear of losing control).
Sometimes, it manifests as insomnia. Ballz is a mobile game that can be played to deal with such symptoms right away. Swipe your finger to throw the balls and break the bricks, before they move down to the bottom. Collect all the items to get additional balls and make an endless ball chain!
Pokemon Cafe (Apple & Google)
Young people in particular report higher anxiety levels than other generations, in annual surveys. Experts debate over the reason why millennials are more anxious than their parents or grandparents.
Mobile games, which are easily accessible and well-liked by the majority of the young population can come in handy here. Pokémon Café Mix is such a mobile game. It is a unique puzzle game where the player becomes the owner of a café that serves delicious treats to Pokémon. It is colourful, distracting and fun!
Candy Crush (Apple & Google)
Today, anxiety disorders are the most common mental illness in the world. It is affecting around 40 million adults — almost 1 in 5 people. Is it just because of increased reporting and diagnosing? Either way, there’s definitely a widespread perception that we’re becoming increasingly anxious.
A rise in daily stress can be one of the causes of it. Beat it with some Candy Crush. Switch and match Candies in this puzzle adventure to progress to the next level for that exciting winning feeling! It will keep you hooked.
Bubble Shooter (Apple & Google)
Millennials are “the most anxious generation in history.” That is not surprising, with everything that has been going on. However, technology is something that we can use to effectively counteract it.
There are a host of mobile games that are created which will help you vanquish your anxiety. For example, the Bubble Shooter. Here, you just need to aim and shoot, to drop and burst all the coloured bubbles. Pop and break all the balls to move on to the next awesome level. Enjoy this nostalgic arcade-style, stress-buster now!
Super Hexagon (Apple)
A large number of things have been blamed for anxiety. But, the truth is, there isn’t enough evidence to lay the blame confidently at any one doorstep. The sources of anxiety are multiple and different for different people.
However, there are solutions. Super Hexagon has a pulsating soundtrack that underscores the danger as you race to escape the contracting maze. Every achievement feels like a massive victory, whether you’re topping your high score or overcoming a tricky section. It will lift your spirit as much as anxiety gets it down!
Slidey (Apple & Google)
Anxiety sufferers face a lot of barriers when trying to access conventional mental health treatment. Therapy is expensive and time-consuming. Medication often comes with stigma and side effects, and gaining access to it requires going through medical gatekeepers.
To manage it for a short-time, mobile games can be an effective solution. They distract you from your negative thoughts and acts as a refreshment. Slidey is a brand new puzzle game that trains your brain! It can entertain you for hours.
HEX (Apple & Google)
Research suggests that gamification generally boosts motivation and user engagement. Various application services use game features to engage its users for longer hours. Games targeted to improve engagement and reduce stress and anxiety aim at similar things.
Their colourful features, appealing music and creative themes make them perfect for individuals suffering from distressing situations. In turn, they improve cognitive abilities. HEX is such a game. It allows you to build loops in a new way and helps you improve your focus and attention levels.
One More Brick (Apple & Google)
Many people in Western countries find it impossible to switch off. They are always alert and stressed out. When these people try to relax, they get bored because they have come to require a certain level of stressful arousal. Mobile games offer them just that.
For example, One More Brick is a unique mix between brick breaker and bubble shooter games. This makes it the perfect time killer! You will be so engrossed that you won’t have the opportunity to delve in miserable thoughts.
Home Sheep Home
People with anxiety often fail to engage in meditative exercises to relax. They feel the need to engage in high arousal activities. Playing certain mobile games offers just enough mental challenge to keep people occupied while putting them into a state of relative mindlessness.
That state appears to have salutary effects on stress and other mental problems. Home Sheep Home is a compelling platform puzzle game that contains all the game play from the previous games.
Personal Zen (Apple & Google)
Personal Zen is built by a team of leading scientists and mobile developers and backed by clinical research. Playing Personal Zen retrains your brain to lower stress and anxiety.
In fact, clinical studies show that Personal Zen can decrease stress and anxiety when used for only a few minutes a day, a few days a week. Meant to be used during breaks in your day or for brief sessions while relaxing at home, it is on-the-go, fun that easily fits into your day.
Paper Toss (Apple & Google)
Research shows that when we are not focusing on a specific task, our minds will wander. Most of us suffer from anxiety and the anxiety is worse when we are doing nothing, or better put when our minds are left to wander in thought.
Paper Tossing is a super energizing paper tossing, target-based amusement. This game is oddly satisfying much like tossing a real ball of crumpled paper into a metal trash basket. So realistic, you will think you are stuck in an office killing time.
AntiStress Anxiety Relief Game (Apple & Google)
There are times when you might find yourself not being able to engage with your work and can’t concentrate. These are the times when mobile games can save you by being the perfect distractors.
AntiStress Anxiety Relief Game features more than 36 games that you can play to distract yourself from negative thoughts. In this endless anti-stress and relaxing game you have to play the role of a free kid who is in free mode. A kid who does not have any worry on their mind.
My Oasis (Apple & Google)
Nowadays, relaxation might be very hard to find because we have too little time to let go of our worries and heal. This has caused us to be in a constant state of activity and a “fight-or-flight” response.
My Oasis is a calming, relaxing and anxiety-relieving game that has been developed to calm your mind. It does not waste time on gameplay or stressful content. This is how it provides a zen environment and calming atmosphere specially built for stressed people for their stress relief.
Energy (Google)
People who suffer from OCD have obsessive thoughts that interfere with their daily living. Similarly, with people having anxiety, ruminating thoughts can cause havoc on psychological well-being. Now, we have a perfect game that can beat these destructive patterns of thoughts.
In Energy, you just have to tap the lines to rotate and create connected loops. People with OCD issues mention this game as a great way to get better. Energy gameplay is very calm and a couple of levels per day are enough to fight OCD and anxiety issues.
Sort It 3D (Apple & Google)
Humans are complex beings with brains that are programmed for problem-solving. Thus, when they don’t have one to solve, they may start creating imaginary ones. This can be a plausible cause for anxiety.
In anxiety, negative thoughts often lead us to believe there is trouble where there is not. Mobile games, which require you to focus, are perfect for such problems. Intriguing and mind-occupying, Sort It 3D requires you to sort colour balls in tubes as fast as you can. Its colourfulness and vibrancy make it all the more exciting.
Monument Valley (Google)
Boredom can also be a huge reason why you have been having scary thoughts and worries.
It can lead to agitated restless and anxiety-inducing feelings. At such times, nothing can be better than immersing yourself in a world of fantasy and story.
Monument Valley is a surreal exploration through fantastical architecture and impossible geometry. Guide the silent princess Ida through mysterious monuments, uncovering hidden paths, unfolding optical illusions and outsmarting the enigmatic Crow People.
Conclusion
In this blog, we explored some of the best games for anxiety. Most of these are apps you can download on your phone. Some of these can either exclusively or additionally be played on their website. Play these to distract yourself and defuse your anxious energy.
The games listed here were Ballz, Pokemon Cafe, Candy Crush, Bubble Shooter, Super Hexagon, Slidey, HEX, One More Brick, Home Sheep, Personal Zen, Paper Toss, AntiStress Anxiety Relief Game, My Oasis, Energy, Sort It 3D, and Monument Valley.
FAQs (Best Games for Anxiety)
Is routine good for anxiety?
Yes, routine is generally good for mental health but is especially helpful with anxiety. That’s because having a routine lowers the amount of uncertainty in your daily life. When things are more predictable, it’s less likely that you will be troubled by anxious thoughts.
What exercises calm anxiety?
Here are some exercises that calm anxiety:
Cook’s Hook Up
Butterfly Hug
Yoga
Mindful Breathing
Tapas Acupressure Technique
Aerobics
Running
What apps help with anxiety?
If you’re looking for anxiety help in your phone, here are some useful apps:
Colorfy.
Dare.
Nature Sounds Relax and Sleep.
Shine.
Breathwrk.
AntiStress Anxiety Relief Game.
Anxiety Relief Hypnosis.
Moodnotes
Citations
Take Control of Your Anxiety Today: Personalized Counseling with BetterHelp
