Living Worlds - Mark Ferrari

• Price: $1.99

Last verified 6 Aug 2026

4.8 88 ratings · App Store

1. 5/5The all-time greatest app for clock-watchers, fascinators, and kinetic art fans, this.

   In the early 1990’s, I got my hands on the original “Seize the Day” calendar program that the description describes. It was amazing. I don’t think I ever made an actual calendar entry, but thoroughly enjoyed watch the scenes change throughout the day. I’d set up my computer with the program running in the back and take breaks watching the sunrises and sunsets change the scene’s palette, the clouds pass, the watchmen carrying their lanterns over the bridges, the desert fireworks, the eerie glows in the ruins and the caves, and the spectral sword above the mountain lake. The scenes themselves evoke such rich stories that have just happened or are just about to, and the art has just enough fantasy elements that the wordlessness lends itself to wonder. The ability to scroll through and fast forward for rewind the scene’s day is a wonderful feature; it can occupy me for longer than I ought to admit. I loved that program and when system softwares made it obsolete, I mourned (just as I did the demise of After Dark and the Far Side screensavers). Such creativity and beauty gone forever, I thought. And then this app came online and I snapped it up (and gifted it to many, many people). It is a fine adaptation; not quite as high in resolution and more narrow in scope, but it uses its platform to the best and I’m sincerely grateful it’s here to enjoy longer. I look forward to any innovation that these fine developers can devise, because I’m here to pay for them. Can’t wait!

   Surly Aardvark · 6 Aug 2026

2. 5/5Beautiful revival of software as old as me

   I never tried Seize the Day in its heyday, as I was more or less an oocyte at the time. However, I discovered the incredible palette-swapping animated pixel art of Mark Ferrari many years later, and fell in love immediately. It was not long after that I discovered Seize the Day, and even managed to get it running in an emulator! I think the whole concept is magical, and I endeavor to create something as beautiful in my time. I was overjoyed when I heard the artwork was being revived in modern form. The app is very relaxing, and the ability to swipe across the times of day and see weather and light fade in and out is absolutely beautiful. I think the added logbook and scavenger hunt ideas are a very nice touch too! They encourage me to check in often and become re-immersed in the scenes. As others have said though, I think the app would benefit *immensely* from the addition of the soundscapes that accompanied Mark Ferrari's artwork on whichever HTML5 website first revived it (or new soundscapes -- any fitting sounds really). The app would then become a nice white-noise/relaxation tool for sleeping, studying, working, etc. In this way, the app would then fill the same role that another wonderful site/app, AmbientMixer, fills for me. All in all, a wonderful app. Carpe diem!

   decka7 · 6 Aug 2026

3. 4/5Dropped my rain sounds to sleep to for this!

   The pixel art is absolutely phenomenal, especially with the little events going on throughout the day. I’m writing this just after waking up from the snowfall and ambient sounds playing from the app. This app transitioned from “oh pretty pixel art, too bad it’s not a live wallpaper” to something I regularly open just to stare at to ease my mind while listening to the sounds, and finally to my new sleeping partner. I’m really giving it 4.5 stars but will bump this up to five depending on Pixelfabrik’s upkeep on the the ambient sounds (though I understand that those are not the critical points of the app). If anything, my only slight annoyance is constantly readjusting the time when I swipe up or down (iphone XR user). A “lock time” option would be excellent. All around though, I do not regret spending the money on this lovely app. Thank you for the quality of work you put in so far Pixelfabrik. Never caught that shooting star either lol.

   Roy B Commissiong · 6 Aug 2026

4. 5/5I have been waiting years for this

   I bought Seize the Day back in the day, and have missed the Living Worlds. I have kept looking for anything like it ever since. While the low res is unfortunate, it’s great to have the scenes back. Update: I was informed of the new changes in Feb. 2021 and immediately downloaded the new version. The days are different now, not the same over and over. The scenes can progress (notably the leaf colors in October and the snow and Christmas tree in December). Days must be swiped through to move to the end or beginning of a month, though. Overall a much-welcomed change. Still wouldn’t mind a calendar function though. Old: I am realizing though that there aren’t 365 different days. It seems to be the same day repeating, but with a mixture of weather and the like. I’d love it if it could be redone with all the daily variations. Rainy days, clear days, snowy days, boring days, weird days. It was like another world. I spent so much time jumping to specific times/dates in my salad days.... Would love to have that back.

   Epsilon Aurigae · 6 Aug 2026

5. 4/5Fun! But where’s the calendar?

   This app is so charming and relaxing, I’m really glad to see these worlds brought back! I agree with other reviewers that it would be even better with the soundscapes—even if you’re not able to use the originals it would be great to have something similar for ambience. I would also suggest recreating the calendar/planner functions of the original software. When I first saw this I expected it would basically be a port of the original and I was a little disappointed to see it was just the art by itself. Maybe it will be possible in the future? It would be wonderful to have such a beautiful fantasy adventure themed planner again, especially since I was a bit too young to have much to plan when it was first around! In any case, this is a lovely and nostalgic little app and I’m glad it was possible to make it!

   SED24357532564 · 6 Aug 2026

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