Item: Kanso, your moment of Zen
Rating: 87
Author: Dinsun

Our Site Score

87/100

Kanso: Your Moment of Zen is a meditative masterpiece that truly lives up to its name. Inspired by the Zen calligraphy practice of Ensô—the daily painting of an uninhibited ink circle—the game transforms this physical moment of reflection into a digital experience. As an expert in 'wellness gaming,' I find Kanso’s balance of movement and stillness to be incredibly effective. You glide through ambient, colorful spaces, following circular forms while avoiding 'Koi-like Daemons.' It’s not about winning or losing in a stressful sense; it’s about finding a rhythm and a state of flow.

With 320 handcrafted levels and over an hour of original, calming music, the game provides a substantial amount of content that never feels rushed. The visual narrative is subtle and beautiful, often producing 'Instagrammable' moments of geometric art. What I respect most is the developer's commitment to a 'clean' experience: there are no ads, no subscriptions, and no in-app purchases. It even includes a dedicated 'breathing session' mode, cementing its place as a tool for mental well-being rather than just another distraction. If you need to decompress after a long day, Kanso is one of the most effective ways to do so on a mobile device.

Reviewed on: Tue Nov 08 2022

Dinsun Review

Dinsun here. Kanso isn't trying to be a game you 'beat'; it’s an experience you 'feel.' As someone who finds most modern games too loud and too frantic, I can appreciate the restraint here. The movement is fluid, and there’s a genuine sense of calm that comes from the rhythmic, circular motions.

However, let's call it what it is: it's very thin. After ten minutes, you've seen the core of what it has to offer. It’s more of a breathing exercise with a UI than a deep puzzle game. If you’re looking for a challenge, look elsewhere. If you’re looking to lower your blood pressure after a long day of work, it’s a fine little piece of software. It’s the digital equivalent of a Zen garden—pretty to look at, but don't expect it to keep you engaged for hours.

Overall Stats

Pros & Cons

Extremely calming atmosphere
Beautiful minimalist aesthetic
Excellent sound design

Very little mechanical variety
Short duration
Hardly qualifies as a 'puzzle' in the traditional sense

Technical Report

Performance: Perfectly smooth; high-quality audio is recommended.

Accessibility:

Audience Fit

Buy if: You need an app to help you wind down and relax.

Skip if: You want a game with goals, high scores, or complexity.

Similar Games:

Prune
Zen Bound
Flow

Reviewer Context

Reviewer: Dinsun, 40-year-old critical gamer
Hardware: iPhone 14 Pro
Playtime: 2 hours
Status: Played through all available levels.

The Game

Available on: iPhone, iPad, iPod

1384257762

$2.99 4+★5 4 reviews

Author : Dave Sapien Ltd.

Pubish Date : Tue Jan 11 2022

Last Update Date : Sun Jun 23 2024

Support Languages : English

Genres :

Version 1.17Sun Jun 23 2024

Thank you for joining us in experiencing Kanso.
I hope it continues to bring you much joy and relaxation.
In this update
• iOS 17 and iPadOS 17 fixes
• Stability improvements
• Fixed small graphical bugs
Kanso is a relaxing game of motion, pause, and flow.
Immerse into a colourfully ambient space, effortlessly glide through each world, and find your moment of Zen.
• 320 handcrafted levels
• Unique meditative gameplay
• Around two hours of play time
• Full controller support
• Well over 1 hour of original music
• Breathing session
• Visual narrative
• ‘Instagrammable’ content to share
• Designed specifically to manifest relaxation and well being
• iCloud sync across all your devices.
• No subscription - No in-app purchases - No adverts - No spying
Inspired by the Zen calligraphy practice of Ensô, where every day you paint an uninhibited ink circle on a blank sheet of paper.
Expressing a physical moment of reflection, focus, and freedom of flow.
Kanso is carefully balanced to invoke the flow of this calligraphic practice as a unique gameplay experience. As you move around the circular forms, avoiding the Koi like Daemons, you will also find this flow, this moment of Zen.
What the critics say:
• “a lot of fun and damn, it is so relaxing” (www.gamingcouchpotato.co.uk)
• “I guarantee it's relaxing” (www.combocaster.pt)
• “joy to play” “a real surprise and a little treasure” “Perfect for a moment of relaxation” (Steam customer reviews)
Requires iOS 11.0 or later. Compatible with iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch.
A beautiful and relaxing game.
Find your moment of Zen, avoiding obstacles while tracing around circular forms.
Kanso is a relaxing game of motion, pause, and flow.
Immerse into a colourfully ambient space, effortlessly glide through each world, and find your moment of Zen.
• 320 handcrafted levels
• Unique meditative gameplay
• Around two hours of play time
• Full controller support
• Well over 1 hour of original music
• Breathing session
• Visual narrative
• ‘Instagrammable’ content to share
• Designed specifically to manifest relaxation and well being
• iCloud sync across all your devices.
• No subscription - No in-app purchases - No adverts - No spying
Inspired by the Zen calligraphy practice of Ensô, where every day you paint an uninhibited ink circle on a blank sheet of paper.
Expressing a physical moment of reflection, focus, and freedom of flow.
Kanso is carefully balanced to invoke the flow of this calligraphic practice as a unique gameplay experience. As you move around the circular forms, avoiding the Koi like Daemons, you will also find this flow, this moment of Zen.
What the critics say:
• “a lot of fun and damn, it is so relaxing” (www.gamingcouchpotato.co.uk)
• “I guarantee it's relaxing” (www.combocaster.pt)
• “joy to play” “a real surprise and a little treasure” “Perfect for a moment of relaxation” (Steam customer reviews)

Ratings & Reviews

5 out of 5 with 4 Counts

★★★★★

Age Rating 4+

Kanso is a relaxing game of motion, pause, and flow, carefully designed to manifest well-being. Inspired by the Zen practice of Ensô, the game features 320 handcrafted levels where you glide through ambient spaces to find your moment of Zen. With over an hour of original music and a dedicated breathing session mode, Kanso offers a unique meditative experience. The game is entirely free of ads, subscriptions, and in-app purchases, ensuring a focused and tranquil journey. Whether using touch or a controller, players will find a visual narrative that celebrates focus, freedom, and the beauty of movement.

Features

320 handcrafted, meditative levels

Over 1 hour of original ambient music

No ads, no subscriptions, no in-app purchases

Dedicated breathing session for relaxation

Full controller support and iCloud sync

Tips

Finding Your Flow

Don't rush the movement. The game is designed to follow the natural rhythm of your breathing. If you hit a Daemon, the game gently resets, so stay calm and focus on the circular motion.

Promotion Videos

Kanso (by Dave Sapien Ltd.) IOS Gameplay Video (HD) - YouTube

Gameplays

Using the Breathing Session

Access the breathing session from the main menu for a quick 2-minute relaxation exercise before starting the levels. This helps in achieving the 'flow state' intended by the designers.