The new year is often a time of resolutions and goals to better ourselves as we enter a new planetary rotational cycle. While some may think the practice is arbitrary, the tradition does hold merit as a starting point for personal growth and change. Whether we’re striving to be more organized, less stressed, or are looking to shed an few pounds, our goals can often be tied to the things we’re passionate about. With that in mind, here are 5 of the best games we think will help make 2017 a better new year no matter what your goals are.

Number 5 – Zombies, Run!

This fitness app from developers Six to Start puts the player in a post apocalyptic zombie feeding frenzy. Your helicopter is hit by a mysterious rocket while on your way to Able Township and you’re recruited as a runner for your home base. You are equipped with a radio operator that keeps an eye out for zombies and gives you instructions on your mission. Running a real life route, you collect virtual supplies for the survivors in your camp and to rebuild your town.

The app can keep track of your progress and you can share and compare online with other runners! Zombies, Run! features over 200 missions to keep you busy and you can set your own pace, from walking, jogging, or running in the virtual world. The nice thing about this app is that you can use it indoors, outdoors, or at the gym, which means you don’t necessarily need to hit the pavement if you want to play this game. You can set the game to even introduce zombie chases, where you will have to increase your pace in order to escape the impending horde!

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With customizable missions, personal music tracks, gps mapping, detailed stats from your workout, and an epic story from award winning author Naomi Alderman, this game is bound to get you in the mood for cardio and quest for survival from the brain eating baddies. Zombies, Run! is available for iOS and Android, with a limited version for download, and a pro version for $3.99. We think that’s a small price to pay to get in better shape and have fun for a better new year!

Number 4 – Viridi

This zen-like Desktop/Mobile app from Icewater Games is a great way to de-stress or manage a bout of anxiety when things get rough. The premise is simple, you have a pot full of succulents, and you have to take care of them. You start out with a batch of plants that grow in real time. You have to water them, weed the pot, and can even plant seeds that are given by the app for free, or buy new plants with in app purchases if you like. The nice thing about this app is that you don’t have to log in every day. The plants are pretty resilient.

The soundtrack is peaceful and the colors a nice and varied, but not intense. Nothing about this game is over stimulating and it creates the perfect environment to just relax for a few moments in the day. Whether you’re looking for a peaceful time killer, or a momentary safe space, we highly recommend this game. Viridi is free to play on Steam, and a mobile version is available on iOS, and Android.

Number 3 – Elevate

With the tons of “brain training” games on the market, it may be difficult to decide which app is the best for your goals of increasing your cognitive function, or becoming an evil genius mastermind. Luckily, developer Elevate Labs takes out a lot of the guess work with their brain training app Elevate. The game has the backing of experts in neuroscience and cognitive learning, with research to boot. If that’s not enough it was also ranked App of the Year for Apple, and Editors Choice on Google Play. The way this app works is simple; Choose the skills you’d like to improve, the app creates a personal training program, and voila! You’re ready to go with more than 35 different exercises! The nice thing about this app is that it adapts to your progress, ensuring that you’re being challenged as you progress.

It is recommended that you play five times a week for the best results, but if you’re looking to be smarter or sharper in the new year, this is a good start! Elevate is available free for download on mobile devices through iOS, and Android with a Pro Version you can purchase in app for $4.99.

Number 2 – Habitica

This motivational desktop game and mobile app is a real winner in our book. It has an 8-bit graphics style that is reminiscent of the old Final Fantasy games. In Habitica you establish an avatar and set goals. Each goal is represented by a monster and could be as simple as wash the dishes, or as ominous as a dissertation. Complete the goal and you defeat the awful creature and gain cool swag and levels to show off. If you backslide in your personal goals, your character does too.

But here’s what really sets Habitica apart: it is party based. You play with friends and your progress effects the progress of the party. If you miss a goal, it could really effect final boss fights and all sorts of other things in the game. Collaboration, competition, and accountability are the hallmarks of Habitica. You get rewards for competing with friends and strangers, and completing every day goals. Gamifying your life with this app on desktop, iOS, and Android is a hell of a way to keep up on productivity for a better new year.

Number 1 – SuperBetter

SuperBetter has a few years under its belt and has proven to be a game worth investing time in. Developed by world renowned alternate reality game designer Jane McGonigal, SuperBetter started out as a game she developed to help heal her brain after a major concussion. After sharing it with others she found that this game was actually helping people feel better too, whether people with chronic illnesses, or just someone who wants to tackle a goal, this game is definitely our top pick for games that will bring you a better new year. You can check out the 2012 TED talk on SupperBetter below!

The game works by targeting scientifically proven methods of increasing resilience, happiness, and productivity by harnessing strengths you naturally display when playing video games. Dubbed a “gameful way of living”, SuperBetter connects you to real world people in your life called “allies” to help you tackle things like depression, achieving dreams or major goals, and helping maintain psychological health and productivity through illness. You get powerups for playing, and the game is backed by plenty of research proving the methods work.

SuperBetter is available free to play on desktop, and has a mobile app for iOS and Android.

So whether you’re looking for a little distraction, or a big boost in productivity, these top five apps for a better new year are our best picks for 2017. We know we’ll be implementing some of them into our own daily routines as the year continues on. Until next time, from all of us at Don’t Feed The Gamers, we wish you a happy, healthy, and productive new year.

Got an awesome game or application you think should be added to the list for a better new year? Tried out some of these apps yourself? Sound off in the comments below!