The Evolving Play Collaborative Network

Alexandre Stroukoff, Luka Lescuyer

Take a Break, The Snake That Wanted to Climb a Tree

Alblune, the creative studio led by Alexandre Stroukoff and Luka Lescuyer, brings a calm, reflective design philosophy to Evolving Play. Their games blend gentle mechanics with therapeutic intent, supporting mindfulness practices like noting and open monitoring. With a background in both AAA and indie development, their work is a standout example of emotionally intelligent game design.

MIT

https://www.linkedin.com/in/bastian-engo/

Bastian Engø, martevik, Aedan Soellaart, keiserjon02, BogBog, hoaye51, JacParraga

Bastian Engø is a creative developer and educator whose work blends emotional depth with elegant, artistic design. Alongside a talented team, he creates games that explore empathy, resilience, and personal growth through interactive storytelling. Clean Slate invites players to help individuals restart their lives by cleaning their spaces and uncovering their stories, promoting cognitive reframing and perspective-taking. 

Perpetual, non-exclusive licence to Evolving Play

www.tiffanywang.me

MIT

www.qcfdesign.com

MIT

https://www.facebook.com/ProductionsFougarou/

Jean-Christophe Pelletier

Mon Samsara

Fougarou Productions, led by Jean-Christophe Pelletier, creates introspective games that explore human values, perception, and emotional growth through elegant, replayable design. Mon Samsara explores the bonds we create and encourages players to reflect on their consumption, relationships, and values, making it a powerful tool for exploring personal growth and emotional awareness.

MIT

www.graemeborland.com

Graeme Borland

MIT

jontopielski.itch.io

Jon Topielski

Microtherapy

Microtherapy for when you overthink a comment you made” — is Jon Topielski’s therapeutic game for the thought you can’t put down. Three movements: answer a few reflective questions about the interaction, draw it, then symbolically destroy the drawing. Built in roughly three days in Godot, it has become one of the most-used games on our platform, because externalising a thought and then letting go of it is a skill that transfers well beyond the screen.

Apache 2.0

https://www.linkedin.com/in/lio-lim/

MIT

oniria.world

MIT

raccoon-raconteur.itch.io

MIT

geoffreymugford.com / https://olisinpa.com

Geoffrey Mugford, Samuli Pietikäinen

Fumble

Fumble is a puzzle game about talking, and about struggling with social anxiety — built by Geoffrey Mugford (code, design and narrative) with art and audio by Samuli Pietikäinen. Its mechanic is the point: symbol-to-arrow puzzles with limited attempts, where never quite knowing the right answer reproduces the pressure of a real conversation. It was made for the May Day Mental Health Game Jam, where it took third prize, and it works for young people who recognise themselves in it before they have a name for what they’re feeling.

Perpetual, non-exclusive licence to Evolving Play

Perpetual, non-exclusive licence to Evolving Play

www.thomasmichaelwallace.com

Thomas Michael Wallace

Cafe Calm

Thomas Michael Wallace is a designer, developer, and educator whose work explores the intersection of play, mindfulness, and digital aesthetics. Through his studio Tomputergames, he creates interactive experiences that are both calming and conceptually rich. Cafe Calm is a breath-focused game that invites players to slow down and find peace in a busy world. Its minimalist design and gentle pacing support mindfulness practices such as open monitoring and meta-awareness, making it a valuable tool for stress reduction and emotional grounding. Wallace’s broader work spans experimental games, interactive art, and educational tools, all grounded in a philosophy of thoughtful, accessible design.

MIT

wayfarergames.itch.io

Wayfarer Games, led by the inventive Dominic Harris, brings a playful and experimental spirit to therapeutic game design. His titles combine rhythm, breath control, and sensory feedback to support mindfulness, anchored attention, and emotional regulation. Whether you’re competing to breathe or navigating a rhythmic obstacle course, Wayfarer Games’ work is a standout example of how creative mechanics can be harnessed for mental well-being.

Perpetual, non-exclusive licence to Evolving Play

pippinbarr.com

Pippin Barr

Staring Contest, Artot

Pippin Barr is an internationally recognised game designer, researcher, and Associate Professor at Concordia University’s Department of Design and Computation Arts. His work explores the intersection of art, philosophy, and play, often challenging conventional game mechanics to provoke reflection and critical engagement. With a Ph.D. in Computer Science focused on video game values and a background in philosophy and HCI, Barr’s games like Staring Contest and Artot exemplify his commitment to experimental, accessible, and thought-provoking design. He is also a core member of the Technoculture, Art, and Games (TAG) Research Centre.

MIT

ultravioleta.itch.io

Lucia Castez

Ultravioleta, led by Lucia Castez, creates accessible experiences that introduce players to mindfulness through simple, intuitive mechanics. Breathe is a short, breath-focused game designed especially for younger players or those new to therapeutic games. Its clean design and real-time feedback help users practice anchored attention and breath awareness, making it a gentle and effective tool for stress reduction.

MIT

artsandculture.google.com

Google Arts & Culture

K-Pop Dance Challenge is a fun and energetic game where you follow on-screen dance tutorials to learn K-pop moves, boosting your mood and fitness. This game helps you improve hand-eye coordination, balance, and cardiovascular health, enhancing your physical well-being skills. Google states: All processing is done locally, using experimental machine learning technology to track your body movements.

CC-BY