Sleepy games for winding down before bed

A wind-down routine for when you can't sleep

Give your body a slow, dim, predictable run-up to bed, and keep screens out of the last part of it.

The NHS suggests winding down before bed, dimming the lights and avoiding screens for about an hour before you sleep. We know that sounds odd coming from a games site. That's why Sheep Drift and Glow Mandala are dark, warm and slow, with nothing flashing or loud: use one as a short bridge from a busy evening, then phone down, pillow up.

If you've been lying awake for a while, many sleep guides suggest getting up, going somewhere dim and doing something calm until you feel sleepy, rather than tossing and turning. Keep the lights low and the activity dull.

Try a cognitive shuffle

A cognitive shuffle is a way of thinking random, harmless, unconnected things so your mind stops gripping onto worries. Some people find it helps them drift off.

It was developed by Luc Beaudoin, a cognitive scientist at SFU in Canada. Pick a word, like 'bedtime', then picture something starting with each letter: a banana, an elephant, a donut. Move on when you get bored. The evidence so far is limited, so think of it as something to try rather than a sure thing.

Counting sheep, honestly

Does counting sheep actually work? The evidence is mixed: for some people it's too dull to hold their attention away from worries.

So Sheep Drift doesn't ask you to count. Instead, you tap to tuck sleepy sheep into bed, one at a time, in a dark, quiet field. It takes about two minutes and works best as a cue that the day is over, not as a sleeping pill. When the last sheep is tucked in, that's your cue too.

Prefer to stay in bed? Try picturing a calm, detailed scene instead: a beach, a forest path, a favourite room. Some people find a vivid picture holds their attention better than numbers.

Relaxing games to play before bed: what to look for

Look for dark colours, slow movement, soft sounds and no score to chase. Anything that makes you want 'one more go' is the wrong game for bedtime.

Glow Mandala fits: draw one line and it's mirrored into sixteen, glowing softly on a dark background. If you like a bit of sound, keep it gentle and natural; in a 2017 brain-scan study, nature sounds shifted people's bodies towards a more restful state than artificial sounds did.

Whatever you play, give yourself a firm stop: one round, one mandala, then lights out. If a game makes you more alert rather than sleepier, swap it for a slower one or put the phone down altogether.

What should I do when I can't sleep?

Keep the lights low, put screens away, and do something slow and boring until you feel sleepy, like a cognitive shuffle or gentle breathing. The NHS suggests winding down for about an hour before bed. If sleep problems last for weeks, talk to a doctor.

How can I fall asleep fast?

There's no guaranteed trick, but many people find a consistent wind-down, a dark cool room and a quiet mental task help. A cognitive shuffle, where you picture random unrelated objects, is one to try.

Does counting sheep actually work?

The evidence is mixed. For some people it's too dull to keep worries out. A calm routine, a dark room and a mental task that's a bit more absorbing may help more. Sheep Drift is designed as a two-minute wind-down cue, then phone down.

Are these sleep games free, and do they work on my phone?

Yes. Both are free, work in your phone's browser with no download or sign-up, and use dark, warm colours with soft sound you can mute.