How we work

This page explains how we decide what goes into the calm library, how we check facts, and what we do when we get something wrong.

How a game earns a place

We look for games whose normal flow of play is low-pressure: little or no combat, few or no countdowns, no requirement to play online with strangers, and the freedom to stop without losing much. A game does not need to tick every box; the calm profile shows exactly where it sits so you can judge for yourself.

Where our facts come from

We compile profiles and guides from primary and official sources: the PEGI database for age ratings and content descriptors, official publisher and developer pages, platform store listings for platforms and purchase information, and official support pages for settings. For health-related topics we only refer to NHS guidance and other official bodies. Every page lists its sources and shows the date we last checked them.

We do not claim to have run lab tests, and we do not publish star ratings or scores. Words like "calm", "cosy" and "gentle" are editorial opinions about pacing and mood, labelled as such.

The calm profile, explained

• No combat — progress does not require fighting.
• No timers — normal play has no countdowns working against you.
• No online pressure — no push towards playing with strangers, daily streaks or time-limited events.
• Save any time — you can stop whenever you like without losing much progress.
• Minutes — our rough sense of a satisfying single sitting.

Independence and money

We are not paid by any company we mention. There are no adverts, no affiliate links and no sponsored placements. Game and company names appear as plain text only, and every image on the site is our own generated artwork rather than official art, logos or screenshots.

Corrections

Games change after release: prices move, features are added, ratings are occasionally revised. If you spot something out of date, email us and we will check it against the source and update the page and its "last checked" date.