Like many addictive smartphone games, Send Me to Heaven's objective is straightforwardly conveyed. Unlike most games, however, its goal is to defy gravity and toss your phone as high as possible, then catch it with precision.
Available exclusively on Android devices, this game has garnered attention for its innovative approach to app user experience. Interestingly, Apple rejected the game from its App Store, citing concerns that it might encourage users to damage their devices – a notion that Send Me to Heaven's creator, Petr Svarovsky, finds disappointing. As he shared with WIRED, his initial intention was to create a game that would challenge people to throw their expensive gadgets and enjoy the thrill of potentially breaking them.
The 50-year-old from Prague didn't let the rejection deter him, however. Send Me to Heaven has been causing quite the commotion among Android users, who have been leaving reviews on the Google Play store, where the game has been available since April 28. One reviewer shared their experience: "I think they took the fun out of the game right before I failed to catch my phone. Fuuuuuuuuuuu." Another wrote: "Already got a good ding on the corner of my RAZR from it," accompanied by a string of laughing emojis.
For those considering cheating the leaderboards, beware! Send Me to Heaven uses advanced physics calculations to detect the height your phone reaches while in mid-air. When you throw your phone, the game starts tracking the time it's in zero gravity. This measurement is then divided by two and inserted into a free-fall formula – a method surprisingly accurate for most phones.
While some Android models work better than others, Svarovsky acknowledges that extreme stunts like throwing your phone from a cliff or taking it skydiving won't yield reliable results. Any time your phone falls further than it rose, the app will return an error message.
The leaderboards showcase impressive scores, with some players reaching heights of 40 meters (131 feet). Svarovsky investigated how this was achieved and discovered that some players were using slingshots to launch their phones.
Initially tested at a music festival in Oslo, Send Me to Heaven proved a hit. The concept alone was enough to inspire thrill-seekers to start throwing their own phones as high as they could – often resulting in failed catches.
While Send Me to Heaven might not be for everyone (especially those with expensive devices), there's a valuable lesson in game design: the fun doesn't have to stay behind the screen. As Svarovsky notes, "You know, it's possible to take the fun outside of the box." Or, as he wryly observes, destroy the box entirely.
App User Experience at its Finest
Send Me to Heaven is a testament to innovative game design and the importance of considering app user experience. By pushing users to get creative with their phone-throwing skills, this game encourages players to engage with the physical world in a unique way.