What is a calm puzzle game?

One you can pick up and put down without pressure: no timers racing you, no ads interrupting you, no streaks punishing you, and puzzles that are fair.

Do your games have ads?

No. None of our apps have ads, accounts or tracking.

Are the puzzles always solvable?

BlockGrid's puzzles are each proven solvable by a solver before they ship, and ZipRight's levels each have exactly one solution.

How do you charge for the games?

Each game is free to start, with one optional purchase for the rest, and there are no subscriptions in our games.

What makes a puzzle game calm? Seven rules we follow

No timers, no ads, no streaks, fair puzzles and clear prices: the design rules behind our calm puzzle games, and why each one matters.

23 October 2026 · 2 min read · Powered By Thistle

"Calm" is an easy word to put on a game and a hard thing to deliver. Plenty of apps say they'll help you unwind, then fill the screen with timers, pop-ups and a streak counter that makes you feel bad for missing a day. Here are the seven rules we follow for our puzzle games, and why each one matters.

1. No timer racing you

Some puzzles are better against a clock. Ours aren't. A timer turns a puzzle into a test, and a test is the opposite of calm. You can take as long as you like to think. If a game shows how long you took, it's for you, not against you.

2. No ads

Ads interrupt, and they do it at the worst moments: just as you've worked out the answer. Our games have none, and no tracking either.

3. No streaks

A streak counter is very good at bringing people back, and also very good at making them feel guilty. We'd rather you came back because you wanted to.

4. Fair puzzles

Nothing is less relaxing than suspecting a puzzle is broken. In BlockGrid, every puzzle is proven solvable before it ships, as we explain in how we built 120 puzzles that can all be solved. In ZipRight, every level has exactly one solution. When you're stuck, there's an answer.

5. Free undo and hints

Mistakes shouldn't be punished. Undo is free in our games, and hints are there when you want them. Experimenting is part of how people solve puzzles, so we make it cost nothing.

6. Built for everyone

Calm means not being shut out. Colour-blind-friendly shapes on BlockGrid's blocks, large text, VoiceOver support, reduced motion, haptics and several languages are part of the build, not a later patch.

7. Clear prices

Our games are free to start. One optional purchase unlocks the rest, and there are no subscriptions in them. The price is always shown in the App Store before you buy, and nothing paid makes the game easier.

Why it matters

The point of a calm puzzle game is to give your mind a gentle workout and then let you put the phone down. If it works, you'll feel a little better after playing than before.

You can try them yourself: BlockGrid, Atlas, ZipRight, ArrowFire and PathRight, all on the games page. And there are strategy guides for BlockGrid, ZipRight, ArrowFire and PathRight.

Questions people ask

What is a calm puzzle game?: One you can pick up and put down without pressure: no timers racing you, no ads interrupting you, no streaks punishing you, and puzzles that are fair.
Do your games have ads?: No. None of our apps have ads, accounts or tracking.
Are the puzzles always solvable?: BlockGrid's puzzles are each proven solvable by a solver before they ship, and ZipRight's levels each have exactly one solution.
How do you charge for the games?: Each game is free to start, with one optional purchase for the rest, and there are no subscriptions in our games.