Kickstarter-Watch: Inner Realms Journey, a Meditation RPG

Clearly, the confluence of RPGs and mental health is a topic of interest here. So it was that Inner Realms Journey caught my attention on a recent skim of Kickstarter’s active gaming projects. It promises guided mediation adventures.

Ok, I’ll bite. Let’s take a look.

The game is less a game in itself and more a platform for learning meditation and mindfulness skills. It claims to help users to reduce stress, anxiety, self-doubt and fears.

Okay, but what is this campaign actually for?

The campaign is raising funds for the production of the ‘Guidebook & Avatar Journal’, a companion book that goes along with the already-extant online platform.

The platform is quite slickly presented. It consists if a number of fantasy-themed guided meditations which have essentially been gamified. I’ve listened to one. I’m not someone who has done much guided meditation, but I enjoyed the experience. I’m not a big fan of the voice. I don’t really find the American accent of the narrator particularly relaxing or reassuring, but nor is it particularly jarring.

The meditation I listened to was also pretty well written, fantasy-wise. It’s clearly been made with attention to detail and a real love of the genre. That means a lot for this sort of thing; I think I’d find it frustrating if it felt disingenuous or cynical. This feels genuine and earnest.

This is, it’s worth mentioning, a subscription service that comes with a $5.55 per month fee. Other levels and deals are available, but this is the core offering. There are also educator packages which include an accompanying curriculum for use with children.

What, though, do we actually get from this campaign?

Well, the core is the Guidebook and Avatar Journal:

It’s the key, it seems, to the gamification of these meditations. The project describes the book thusly:

• Bring the majik to life: Inner Realms Journey is designed to help you live a life of joy, play, and wellness deeply aligned with your unique essence. This new book is a powerful ally and tool to help you transform your life!
• Track your progress: Record your thoughts, feelings, and insights as you journey through the Realms. Keep track of your achievements and milestones, and celebrate your growth and transformation.
• Explore your creativity: Use the prompts and exercises to tap into your imagination, unleash your creativity, and develop your problem-solving skills. You’ll be surprised by what you can create when you give yourself permission to dream.
• Cultivate self-awareness: Use the journal as a tool for self-reflection and introspection. Explore your inner world, identify your strengths and weaknesses, and overcome your limitations.
• Enrich your journey: Your creativity and imagination are an equally important part of the adventure. The Journal is an essential accessory to help you develop and implement your creations, experiences, and insights for the adventure of your life!

The price for the book and 2 months of subscription is $30. For $70, you get a year’s subscription with the book. This actually makes the book itself a pretty good deal.

Yeah, this is an interesting one. I think it’s the subscription portion that makes me a bit hesitant to get it, myself. Worth a look, though!

You can click here to visit the project page over at Kickstarter.