Joseph Ford, Thunderbolt writes:
The application of games in a therapeutic context is a well-documented phenomenon. There has been less discussion of the therapeutic potential of game design, however, which is perhaps why the story behind iOS title Imp Paired is so fascinating. Its developer, Nicholas Lister, credits the game with having helped him answer various post-scholastic life questions, yet the final product is no grim, existential meditation. On the contrary, it’s a colourful, fun take on the memory-match genre, complete with sharp dialogue and a strong message about taking control.
"As a long time App Store gamer, I have myself ever increasingly drawn to the allure of the puzzle game. Thankfully the App Store is one in which there is the increasing proliferation of such whimsical wonders. So when I was given the opportunity to indulge my whims in yet another puzzle game recently released on the AppStore, you could probably forgive my imp-ish excitement. Imp Paired is the brainchild of a former aspiring London-based architect, Nicholas Lister. Who having decided the career he spent years studying towards was more negative than relative to his life’s progression (resulting in a energy-draining bout of undiagnosed depression), he decided (with some friendly encouragement) to do something completely different, videogames. You have to give him credit, for his first attempt at creating a decent gaming experience he has done admirably. Imp Paired is an artful reimagining of the game Pairs, brought into the 21st century on your iOS device, or something to that effect. The premise is simple, but in this case simple works."
