When times are hard, it can be really helpful to turn to interactive tools to manage your wellness. We compiled a list of our favorite apps and games for self care, from habit trackers to calm spaces to find peace.

#SelfCare by Tru Luv

Tru Luv wants you to stay in bed -- and if you can’t, at least your avatar can. In this free app for iOS and Android, you can snuggle your cat, consult the tarot, and find some peace.

“We have a love-hate relationship with our phones, and often feel stressed and manipulated by them,” inform #SelfCare co-creators Eve Thomas and Brie Code. “We want to create experiences that don’t waste our time and that truly leave us feeling relaxed and invigorated and more ready for life. For 3-5 minutes you can escape to a calm and soothing room, do some relaxing, meditative tasks, and return to your life refreshed and ready to face your stresses.”

PanicMechanic by Allostatech

PanicMechanic is an interactive tool for tracking and treating panic attacks. Research on panic and anxiety suggests that by tracking your body’s fear response, you will be able to anticipate your pattern of responding which will help you gain control of your anxiety. By using PanicMechanic during several panic attacks, you will learn how your body will likely respond to certain situations and triggers. This app by Allostatech is currently available for iOS. The Android port, which is being developed by a Rad Magpie team, will be released soon!

SuperBetter

SuperBetter uses the psychological principles that make games fun and rewarding and applies them to your everyday tasks and goals. You may have heard about this app through designer Jane McGonigal’s TED Talk on its development in 2012. The app has grown and improved in the years since and has a strong focus on building mental resiliency for the long term, rather than just completing tasks on a day to day basis. SuperBetter is free on Google Play and App Store, with a premium plan available as well.

Aloe Bud by Amber Discko

This is one of the most charming self-care apps we’ve ever come across. Aloe Bud uses push notifications to offer kind words and healthy reminders, and features activity cards that help track and maintain your self-care habits. This app is unique in its gentle, encouraging approach — developer Amber Discko created it out of a need for a self care tool that didn’t evoke feelings of shame or guilt. It’s like having a super supportive friend in your pocket! Aloe Bud is available for free on iOS devices.

Kind Words by Popcannibal

In an online landscape where anonymous hate-mail is just a click away, it is easy to overlook the potential for encouraging thoughts. Kind Words harnesses the power of the internet for good. In this relaxing, cozy space, players write and receive kind letters with strangers on the internet. How pure is that? The soundtrack is just as remarkable as the sentiment -- subtitled "lo fi chill beats to write to," Kind Words lives up to that name with the work of composer Clark Aboud. The dreamy ambiance sets the tone for blissful gameplay. Oh yeah, and there's stickers (!!!!), in case you needed one more reason to give it a shot. You can buy Kind Words on Steam or the Humble Store for $5.

Habitica

Habitica gamifies your life by turning tasks into RPG quests. Level up, battle monsters with your guild, and customize your avatar while being rewarded for completing chores and forming habits. This self care app is unique in its fully realized game world and RPG theme; the gameplay mechanics expand past simply earning points for checking off tasks. You can download the app for free on Android and iOS.

You Feel Like Shit

You Feel Like Shit “is meant to be an interactive flow chart for people who struggle with self care, executive dysfunction, and/or who have trouble reading internal signals. It's designed to take as much of the weight off of you as possible, so each decision is very easy and doesn't require much judgment.” This browser app guides you through self care questions to make sure all your needs are met.

This version was designed and developed by Amanda Miklik. The content is adapted from the incredibly helpful and popular twine You Feel Like Shit: an Interactive Self Care Guide developed by Jace Harr, with permission. If you’d rather play the original twine game, check it out here.

Self-Care Apps and Games