Ap Review: Amaru

As you probably already know, I test run all the aps that I review on this blog. I still love the feedback I get from others who try them out, though, because a lot of them are created for issues that I do not personally experience. For example, I’m glad people found my review of Curable helpful, even though I do not personally experience chronic pain.

The ap I have to share with you today is one I have been using because I have personally found it helpful. It is called Amaru, and it features a virtual flying cat pet who teaches you about self-care. What could possibly be more adorable than that?

There is a paid version that unlocks more features, and to be honest, I am seriously considering revising my “I don’t pay for aps” policy and upgrading. So far, though, I have stuck with the free version so that I can keep my commitment to only recommending aps that my readers can use for free.

When you first create the game, you find your kitten friend scared and alone. You have to figure out how to befriend them, and the game gives you feedback. For example, I tried comforting mine with pets, and it said that they did not want to be touched right now.

Eventually, I figured out that we needed to do a breathing activity together. That allowed us to bond, and I could pet and feed them.

With the free version, there are limited meditations that you can complete, including mindfulness, deep breathing, and visualization tasks. I assume the paid version unlocks more options. You can play a memory game where you remember a pattern of colors and sounds, or you can do a focus activity where you “whack” away bad critters but keep good critters.

I personally really enjoy the whack-a-mole type game and think of it as an analogy for identifying and letting go of negative thoughts that do not serve me.

The game rewards self-care by giving you gems, unlocking new items, and increasing your bond with your pet. You get rewards for things like practicing mindfulness and keeping a consistent sleep schedule. Essentially, the ap reinforces things that are healthy long-term but do not provide an immediate dopamine boost.

Amaru is adorable, fun, and a great way for people of all ages to learn more about self-care.