ZipZap: Sleep & Wake Up

Five calm minutes before bed: draw slow lines between two dots, then put the phone down. In the morning, a 3-minute game to get you moving. No streaks.

ZipZap is two short, quiet games. One helps you put the phone down. The other helps you get out of bed.

There is nothing to win, nothing to unlock, and no streak to protect.

SLEEP — 5 MINUTES Two dots appear. You draw a line from the right one to the left. Another pair appears. That's the whole game.

The music fades down as you go. The dots keep a slow, steady pulse that your breathing tends to follow on its own. There is no score, because a score is a reason to try harder — and trying harder is the opposite of falling asleep.

At the end the music stops dead. That silence is the point: it's the cue to put the phone face down and close your eyes.

MORNING — 3 MINUTES The same idea, running the other way. You draw left to right, the palette is bright, the music comes up instead of down, and the dots pulse faster as the three minutes go on.

This one is scored, and it keeps your personal best — here, a reason to try harder is exactly what you want.

HOW IT WORKS The app opens on whichever mode fits the hour. Mornings show Wake Up first; evenings show Sleep first. Tap, play, done.

WHAT'S IN IT • Sleep session — 5 minutes, winding down • Morning session — 3 minutes, winding up, with a personal best • Original music by Mr Smith • Works offline. No account. No sign-up. • No leaderboards, no notifications nagging you back in

ONE-TIME PURCHASE ZipZap is free and ad-supported. There's a small banner, and full-screen ads only appear before a game starts, never in the middle of one. If you'd rather not see them at all, a single purchase removes them permanently. No subscription.

ZipZap is a game, not a medical device. It won't treat insomnia or any sleep disorder. It's a calm five minutes to end the day with, and a brisk three to start one.