Chop Wood Mindfulness Challenge

Inspired by a Zen proverb, Chop Wood Mindfulness Challenge is a minimalist wood-splitting activity that promotes simplicity, harmony, and relaxation. Set in a tranquil Japanese-style landscape, with ever-changing seasonal conditions, and a captivating original soundtrack, Chop Wood aspires to bring you peace through play.

Is Chop Wood a meditation disguised as a game; or is it a game disguised as a meditation? Both! It is an experience designed to promote well-being through engagement, rather than formal instruction.

While most meditation or mindfulness apps teach or guide the participant, Chop Wood locates the player within a visual poem where there is a simple, repetitive task, a rhythmic engagement, a peaceful context, uplifting music, and a satisfying action.

Chop Wood is a game of days intended to be played in short intervals over long spans of time. It is a game. It is a practice. It is a meditation. It asks you to slow down. Unlike most games, Chop Wood’s game-play has a daily limit. Once you run out of energy, the game is over until the next calendar day. Chop Wood seeks to enhance your life, not take it over.

Can a game help you to relax? Can a game be good for you? We think so! Our goal is to create a meditative and calming experience that is accessible and engaging: A Tamagotchi for the Soul.

We hope you will find peace in this simple activity.

FEATURES

• Dynamic game weather based on player location
• Original soundtrack by renowned Japanese composer Michiyo Yagi
• Seasonal scenery inspired by Japanese prints
• 22 Color Grades
• 8 Animal Badges
• Pay once, play forever.
• No subscriptions or in-app purchases

INSPIRATION

Chop Wood is intended to be a minimal Zen experience to focus awareness and calm the mind, inspired by the Zen proverb: “Before enlightenment chop wood, carry water. After enlightenment chop wood, carry water.”

With the demonstrated health benefits of mindfulness meditation, yoga, and other awareness practices, we wanted to create a game that brought some of those benefits to people everywhere via mobile devices. Peace through play.

CREDITS

Game Designer: Ken Hudson
Lead Developer: Nikhil Jolly
Lead Artist: Jessica Slusark
Original Soundtrack: Michiyo Yagi