When things in real life feel overwhelming, one of the first things that we likely want to do is find an escape. It could be as idealistic as taking a vacation or as simple as going for a walk. However, activities to help us get out of our heads can be easier said than done, especially if depressive episodes or anxiety attacks make even the seemingly easiest of tasks feel impossible.
For some, these feelings can get so intense to the point that all one can do is go on their phone and mindlessly scroll as a coping mechanism. However, there are still ways they can get an escape so they don’t slip into going onto websites and social media platforms that can continue to overwhelm and stress them out. If you’ve ever heard of games like Animal Crossing or The Sims, you may already know how games where building communities and improving an avatar’s life can help one get out of their own head for a little bit and focus on a virtual character’s.
Phone apps like Oasis and Adorable Home help provide a similar kind of escape and refuge. While Oasis is based in nature and Adorable Home is more domestic, they both share an idealistic, calming escape where players can spend a good amount of time growing a space and making it beautiful with little to no stress attached.
Oasis helps you build, unsurprisingly, an oasis where you can collect animals (and accessories for the animals!) and complete small, stress-free activities to help your oasis thrive. These activities are as easy as repeating three-note songs and continuously tapping the screen to gain hearts. It’s purposefully designed as an anxiety relief activity; for example, there’s constant light, soft music playing in the background. Adorable Home, on the other hand, helps you build a home with your partner, and in order to do so, has you collecting cats and completing quick activities with them to gain points.
Both are free and are Android and Apple friendly, though both come with ads that may briefly take the player out of that relaxing state.
Does your child play any games? Do you know what they are? Do you notice if these games cause a change in your child’s mood? Do you think games like the ones above would be relaxing for them?