#SelfCare
Review

#SelfCare (2019) is a companion game that aims to create space for your feelings. Unlike other apps that remind or incentivise you to take a break, breath or even just to stand up, #SelfCare offers interactions and narrative that create a context for you to consider and practice looking after yourself.

In the game, you are lazing in bed, in a pastel room. It's a bit of a mess, but it's not your job to tidy or achieve anything. It's a space you can personalise with art and objects. A tranquil hypnotic voice is heard encouraging you that "it's ok" to just stay here surrounded by our "special sacred things".

You can scroll around the room, tap on items to interact with them. This may be constructing simple word puzzles, picking a tarot card, or annoying the cat. As you explore, the game interweaves meditation instructions to "feel our feet," "take a breath," or "shake it loose".

As you play, the awkward and random feel of the interactions fades and can offer some substantial and important space to look after ourselves without the common self-discipline or achievement that come with that.

As the developer says, it's a space "to reflect, unwind, blow bubbles, write in our journal, pet our cat, and be in the moment. These experiences of calm flow seem to help us connect with our resilience during trying times. Maybe they will for you too."

Our examiner, Andy Robertson, first checked #SelfCare 3 years ago. It was re-examined by Jo Robertson and updated 24 months ago.