Four Divine Abidings
Posted June 12, 2025. Updated June 13, 2025. Played 4289 times for a total of 4258 hours.
description
Complete the Path in this mindfulness-themed idle/incremental hand-painted journey inspired by Buddhist philosophy.
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newest comments
Update 18082025
⬖ Display requirements and progress for the Milestones that have been unlocked but got locked again due to Rebirth.
⬖ Added Tier locks display to Tools' level progress info.
Update 08082025 Mindful Moments automation
⬖ Added a new level to the Journal tool that automates embracing Mindful Moments with a 25% chance. Mindful Moments that will be auto-embraced are spawned a little bigger and in a different color.
Note: as Mindful Moments don't spawn offline, this feature only works when the game is running.
⬖ Added Mindful Moments embracing animation.
⬖ Minor UI improvements.
Update 01082025
⬖ UI/UX fine tuning.
⬖ Fixed a bug with the last Milestone sometimes not displayed properly.
Update 31072025
⬖ Reduced Seclusion milestone requirements across most levels, total reduction ~26%. This shouldn't be a late game roadblock for idle builds anymore.
⬖ Reduced Progress milestone requirements by 50% for a smoother Tier 3 experience.
I was invited to a podcast by a fellow game developer Lucas Molina where we discussed a range of topics connected to our personalities, gaming, meditation, and the creation story behind Four Divine Abidings. I'm happy to share our talk.
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/7Dzz9HPsxI3N15uGl48ud6
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lS39BXvqoFk
YouTube Music: https://music.youtube.com/watch?v=lS39BXvqoFk
top comments
I see people understandably downvoting, because they think the game has AI art. But it is not the case, the art is hand-painted by a professional artist; soon will be getting its own offline exhibition.
Here is a link to hand-painted album: https://www.reddit.com/r/4da/comments/1jqvahx/hand_painted_album/
I'd like to compliment the dev on the thought-through interface. I like the games that give players all the relevant info, and this one has plenty of info that is well presented and easily accessed.
developer response: Thank you for the kind words :)
I'm enjoying this so far. Quite a slow pace but I think that's very much intentional. Goes without saying that the art is gorgeous.
Some minor quibbles/feedback:
- it's possible to earn Insight, and buy the "Insight Reward Chance" skill, before being able to access the explanation of what Insight does. I spent a while trying to find it assuming I'd accidentally skipped it.
- In the Qualities page, Mental Energy is listed first, but in the Encounter Information, Physical Energy / Tick is listed first.
- I don't really understand the reason for preventing another full respec until you complete a few encounters, since you can just manually reset each individual skill and insight to achieve the same result at any time. Yeah, there's the Realignment milestone that could be cheesed, but there are plenty of tasks that can be cheesed the same way.
- I haven't unlocked the first level of Mala Beads yet, so it shows it locked behind Tier 2. Why not show this in the same way as the other tools locked behind Rebirths?
- Click Boost Length feels very weak if not pointless, since it's only relevant for active builds but playing actively means you can just boost after each effort tick anyway.
developer response: Thank you for the feedback and art compliment :)
- it's possible to earn Insight, and buy the "Insight Reward Chance" skill, before being able to access the explanation of what Insight does. I spent a while trying to find it assuming I'd accidentally skipped it.
I'm not sure what to do about it. For a very idle playstyle, game sequence might shift a little bit, but nothing game breaking. Do you consider it a big or a small inconvenience?
- In the Qualities page, Mental Energy is listed first, but in the Encounter Information, Physical Energy / Tick is listed first.
Good catch! I will fix this one.
- I don't really understand the reason for preventing another full respec until you complete a few encounters, since you can just manually reset each individual skill and insight to achieve the same result at any time. Yeah, there's the Realignment milestone that could be cheesed, but there are plenty of tasks that can be cheesed the same way.
It's just little steps to get into game systems. I left some small things being more effective than others at different stages of the game. So attentive players get some rewards faster :)
- I haven't unlocked the first level of Mala Beads yet, so it shows it locked behind Tier 2. Why not show this in the same way as the other tools locked behind Rebirths?
When unlocking Tools by Rebirths, you unlock them forever, as Rebirths don't go backwards. On the other hand, Tier locks will be effective each new Rebirth. Given Mala Beads example, it still can only be accessed on Tier 2 after the Rebirth. This way I tried to create balanced experienced, enjoyable through many Rebirths.
- Click Boost Length feels very weak if not pointless, since it's only relevant for active builds but playing actively means you can just boost after each effort tick anyway.
Give it some time, please :) There are different, evolving, intertwined game loops, not all of them are obvious at the early stage of the game.
One of game's design goals was to leave no useless Skills, Insights, Tools and other mechanics. I'm very curious to hear from you again :) I'm still polishing the game before Steam and mobile releases.
I don't usually like to speak up with my opinion about a game before I give it at least a few hours first, but this one got me really hard. Maybe it's just because I feel kind of emotionally strip-mined as-is, but the images are gorgeous, and the vibe is immaculate. Thanks for making this.
developer response: Thank you for the feedback :)
Update 16.06.2025
⬖ Claiming Milestones now requires additional click to confirm, so rewards can be previewed for more informed decisions.
⬖ Minor early Path balancing.
⬖ Minor UI/UX improvements.