Games to cool down when you're angry

Calm first, then sort it out: what research says about venting

Venting, like punching a pillow or smashing things, usually doesn't make anger go away. Lowering your body's 'revved up' state does.

A 2024 review of 154 studies by Kjærvik and Bushman found that activities which raise arousal, such as hitting things or intense venting, didn't reduce anger, while calming activities like slow breathing did. That's why there are no smashing games here. Anger often makes sense, because something mattered to you; it's just easier to act on it well once you've cooled down.

This doesn't mean ignoring what made you angry. Anger can point to something that genuinely needs to change, like a boundary someone crossed or a problem that keeps happening. Cooling down first just means you get to choose your response, instead of the heat choosing it for you.

How to calm down fast when angry: a 2-minute cool-down

Pause, step away if you can, and breathe out slowly. Two minutes is often enough to take the edge off.

The mental health charity Mind suggests counting to ten, walking away for a bit and taking calming breaths. Cool-Down Volcano turns that into a game: each slow breath cools the lava, until the volcano becomes a snowy, smiling mountain. It takes about two minutes, and you can't lose. Afterwards, if you still feel tight, Color Swirl gives your hands something slow to do while your thoughts settle.

Anger management games for kids online

For kids, the most useful calm-down game is one that teaches them to notice anger in their body and then gives them something to do about it.

Anger shows up physically: a faster heartbeat, a clenched jaw, hot cheeks, tapping feet. A volcano is an easy picture for children to understand: rumbling, hot, about to blow. Cool-Down Volcano lets them see their slow breaths cool it down. Parents and teachers can use it as a two-minute calm-down corner on a tablet or Chromebook: there are no ads, no chat and no sign-up.

A simple script helps: 'I notice my body is hot. I'm going to breathe the volcano cool. Then I'll say what I need.' Practising it when everyone is calm makes it much easier to reach for in the moment.

Games to play when angry: why slow beats fast

Fast, competitive games can keep your heart racing and make frustration worse when you lose. When you're mad, a slow game with no fail state is usually the better pick.

Color Swirl is about as slow as it gets: stir a sky of colour, then watch it settle. When you feel cooler, come back to whatever made you angry and ask one question: what do I actually want to happen next? It's much easier to answer with snow on the volcano than lava.

How do I calm down when I'm angry?

Pause, step away if you can, and take slow breaths with a long out-breath, or count to ten. Research suggests calming activities lower anger, while venting by hitting or shouting usually doesn't. Deal with the problem once you've cooled down.

How can I calm down fast when I'm angry?

Try two minutes of slow breathing: in for about four seconds, out for about six. Cool-Down Volcano guides you through it as a game, turning hot lava into a snowy mountain as you breathe.

What should kids do when they're angry?

Help them name the feeling, notice where it shows up in their body, then do something calming together, like slow 'volcano breaths' or a short walk. A two-minute calm-down game can make that practice fun rather than a punishment.

Are these calm-down games free, and do they work on tablets?

Yes. Both games are free, run in the browser with no download or account, and work on phones, tablets, Chromebooks and computers.