Mental Health is becoming a growing topic today, but is a journey I have been on for a long time. College brought on a new world that taught me a whole new part of myself. I had been dealing with anxiety and depression since middle school but I never had a chance to talk to someone about it seriously until I got counseling with my university. They would teach and practice the powers of mindfulness and breathing, which helped direct my anxiety to the point where classes and school work would be the focus again. I got back in the habit of listening to classical music, especially piano, help calm down and regulate. While the new tools were helpful, it made me reflect on how I went so long without them. The answer was simple, video games.
Video games have the power to bring players to far off worlds built on narratives carefully curated for players to get lost in while escaping day to day realities. I personally love a deep and well crafted story with characters I can connect with to explore different scenarios. But what if you aren’t in the mood for video game immersion? I have had days where I have been so tired I couldn’t move through a game like I wanted to because my brain couldn’t process the controls like I normally would.
With anxiety and ADHD, I need games that are calm and much less involved so if I am having an off day or need to re-regulate myself from a panic attack, I’m not doing so while also being the Dragonborn in an epic battle with an Ancient Dragon. A few years ago, I found myself searching for a game that could help me in there harder moments. Mindlessly playing clicker games, I turned on YouTube and found one of my favorite YouTubers playing Coloring Pixels. By the end of the video, I knew I found the game I needed.
Introducing Coloring Pixels
Coloring Pixels, developed by Toastie Labs, is a game where players color pixels in a design like a color by number. I’ve had several of these types of games downloaded to my phone but this game is a bit more unique. The soundtrack is soothing and uplifting. A variety of settings are available to make coloring easier or harder depending on players’ style. The game is a very small file size so it doesn’t take up too much room in your storage system. This also makes it quick and easy to install and update. The layout is simple and encouraging for players to navigate with TONS of options available with little or no cost. The base game is free to play with DLC packs only costing $0.99.
How Do I Play?
The gameplay of Coloring Pixels is simple and easy to follow. From the main menu, players pick what coloring pack they would like to explore. Within the pack, there is 12-16 designs to choose from, starting at the top with smaller designs. This allows players to work their way up to the larger designs as they go. Depending on the design, there can be many different colors or a small amount of them. Regardless, each color has an assigned number for the player to follow through the design. Happy mistakes happen in art. Coloring Pixels make them easy to spot as players go! The pixel font will remain with the incorrect color shown in the font, until players use the intended color.
Each pack is like its own individual coloring book, with each design being its own page in the book. Themes tie designs together with a wild variety for players to indulge in. From themes of animals to geometric patterns, there is a pack for everyone to enjoy! The base game comes with over 90 designs for free. Players are not locked into any order or way of coloring a particular design. Sometimes I like to color in number order but I’ll take larger designs piece by piece. It’s up to players to decide how they want to enjoy their time coloring.
But Will I Run Out of Designs?
At the time of writing this, I have completed 184 designs in 165 hours (according to Steam statistics). I have purchased numerous of the DLC packs as well. Through the Steam Store, gaining access to these packs was simple and easy to do. The game does provide a direct link to the Steam Store from the pack menu. Players can purchase the packs they’re interested in directly.
New DLC packs come out with decent regularity! I wait for multiple packs to come out and purchase them in a large batch order. Updates to the game are also regularly performed as the creative team is always looking to add new designs. Some of my favorite updates happen around holidays as different themed packs become featured, such as the Advent packs around Christmas time! These packs are free to players and showcase festive, cheerful designs like an advent calendar leading to Christmas Day. Falling snow is added to the background of the coloring screen. I love the creative way of adding some holiday cheer to an already festive and cozy atmosphere.
It should be noted that I did not purchase the DLC packs due to lack of content. Instead, I wanted to support the developers for this game. Toastie Labs are a small United Kingdom based indie team that have also created Skystead Ranch, WooLoop and Hexceed along with other great games. Coloring Pixels shows great deal of detail, from various hues of colors used to bring out the depth to the font choice for the numbers of each pixel. I personally struggle to tell the difference between 2’s and 3’s due to the font, but I don’t feel hindered by this thanks to the team’s care in accessibility settings.
What Do The Settings Look Like?
Some classic settings are available to players such as basic volume control of in game music. However, Toastie Labs tried to make this game available to everyone they could. The first feature that I did not realize I needed was the difference between light and dark mode. Players have the option of having the background of the coloring screen set to white or black. I take full advantage of dark mode whenever I can! It is much easier on my eyes and helps me maintain a calm and cozy environment as I color.
Players also have the option to toggle whether they want happy mistakes to take place. Colors can be locked in place or be changed after applied to a pixel. When I color a pixel, I get to make sure happy mistakes don’t have me redo that pixel! They even included spoiler settings where the pack menu will only reveal the size of the design in height and width pixel measurements. You get to discover what the design is as you go!
The Music Ties It All Together
The final feature of this game that sold me is the music. Anxiety is a bear that is loud, raging, and demands your attention. At least, that’s how mine is. If I’m trying to calm down and build a place of peace and tranquility, Coloring Pixels promotes that with the soundtrack. The music built into the game is a peaceful playlist of original piano pieces. Amazing! The soundtrack is available for purchase on the Steam Store, so you can listen to it outside of gameplay if you so desire. Listening to the talent of the composer as I’m coloring really brings the experience of this simple game to light.
Thank You!
Toastie Labs! Thank you for bringing us a game that is peaceful, easy, accessible, and helpful. Personally, I know my own mental health has benefitted from being able to use your game as a tool to unwind and re-center myself at the end of the day. The designs are applicable to all genders and allow the gamer to just be themselves for little to no cost. Gamers, let me know if you enjoyed reading this or if you have played Coloring Pixels yourself! I look forward to seeing how this game has helped and been enjoyed by others! Until next time.
Links:
- Toastie Labs Website: https://www.toastielabs.co.uk/
- Press kit from which media was obtained: https://www.igdb.com/games/coloring-pixels#media
- Steam Stats as of writing
- 165 hours of record
- 184 of 1803 achievements (designs completed)
- 25 of 76 DLCs purchased
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This post is not sponsored. All thoughts and opinions have been made independently through experience and time spent with the game.
