Kind Words (video game)

Kind Words (lo fi chill beats to write to) is a casual video game from 2019, created by the American indie studio Popcannibal. The team includes programmer and designer Ziba Scott, alongside artist Luigi Guatieri. It first appeared as a Humble Bundle Original in July 2019, then launched on Steam two months later. Players can exchange anonymous letters—sending or requesting them—over the internet, all while lo-fi music plays in the background. The game is widely praised for fostering a supportive community.

A sequel, Kind Words 2 (lofi city pop), came out on 7 October 2024.

**Gameplay** Upon starting, the player meets Ella, a mail carrier deer who is anxious about her new role. After writing a brief note to encourage her, the player provides a name—only its first letter is used afterward. From there, the player can write an anonymous letter in response to someone else’s request, put out a request of their own, or launch a paper airplane with a short message attached. The only view is the player’s bedroom, which can display physical tokens representing stickers they’ve collected.

**Letters** When requesting letters, the player receives anonymous replies from others. To write a letter, the player picks a request from a queue—each request appears as a short statement on a card—and can either reply or skip it. The response is written on a piece of paper, and the player may include a sticker from a collection given to them by previous players. Incoming letters go to an inbox, where the player can read responses to their past requests. Paper airplanes drift across the screen; clicking one reveals its message. These can be sent or received by anyone and typically contain short, uplifting notes.

**Reception** Critics have highlighted the game’s positive community. A Polygon review called it “a simultaneously disarming yet intense experience.” A Kotaku piece noted that trolling sometimes occurs during livestreams. Scott responded by saying trolls “rarely hang around long,” and that only about 3% of letters were reported, mostly for being off-topic. An A.V. Club writer praised the gameplay and argued the community makes the game “troll-proof.” After the original’s success, Popcannibal announced a sequel, Kind Words 2 (lofi city pop), which adds more locations beyond the bedroom. It launched on 7 October 2024.

**Awards** **References** **External links**