The mobile puzzle game KAMI 2 has been used in a psychiatric feasibility study as a digital tool for so-called “high-emotion situations.” These are situations in which anxiety, inner unrest or emotional overwhelm become difficult to manage.
KAMI 2 was developed by the British indie studio State of Play and released in 2017. Its visual design is heavily inspired by origami. Players work with colored, folded-paper shapes and try to transform them in as few moves as possible until only one color remains. Which color that is is entirely up to the player.
With anxiety, attention often becomes locked onto danger, uncertainty and frightening situations. The mind gets stuck in the anxiety, and many people reach for their phones in an attempt to escape it. The game meets the user at exactly that point, while steering the brain away from endless scrolling and swiping. Instead of constantly taking in new stimuli that fragment attention, KAMI 2 directs the user’s focus toward a single, clearly defined task.
This creates a different kind of digital activity: calm, clear and focused. The game demands attention without overwhelming the mind with constantly changing content. Thinking remains active, but for a few minutes it has a clear direction.
The paper-like appearance of the game was a deliberate choice. The studio worked with real paper, cutting and photographing pieces and using those images as the basis for the game’s lighting, shadows and textures. The experience almost has a tactile paper quality, reinforced by subtle sounds of paper and folding.
KAMI 2 also does away entirely with many of the elements typically found in conventional puzzle games or relaxation apps. There is no background music, no timer, no limited number of attempts, no other players and therefore no competition, no in-app purchases to unlock special features, no daily streak and no push notifications. The game avoids pressure altogether.
The response to the concept speaks for itself: since its release, KAMI 2 has been described in reviews almost universally as “calming,” “relaxing,” “soothing” or even “zen-like.” Some users report deliberately turning to the game during periods of inner unrest, anxiety or intense tension.
At the time of publication, Nokosphere is not aware of any clinical evidence demonstrating the effectiveness of KAMI 2 specifically. What remains striking, however, is that a mobile game originally created as a minimalist origami puzzle has since found its way into psychiatric research as a tool for high-emotion situations.
