The handheld chill-out zone

[Skull Commander]

Hows about prof layton? You can do puzzles in your own time and it's pretty gentle paced.

[JazzFunk]

"Willie Donaldson's Book Of Rogues, Villains & Eccentrics" (aka "Brewer's Rogues, Villains, Eccentrics"). Best sleepy-time book ever. I have major insomnia, even doing a job that makes me work my absolute bollocks off, and I take Nytols all the time, but that book tips me into sleepiness 90% of the time. I'm kind of discrediting it, as it is one of the most interesting books I've read in eons, it doesn't bore me to sleep, it's just...so much interesting info, I can't take it all in(!) And I just - bosh - nod off.

That or any Metroidvania Castlevania when under the influence of a Nytol or two bottles of wine. Three more 'Wind quests' to do in Portrait Of Ruin before defeating Drac, then trade-in for that crackball...

[ShadowDancer]

But if you are doing it to help you sleep, something you have little interest is much better than a thriller, or a book you actually want to read. I read part of Bleak House when I can't sleep - a part I've read plenty of times in the past, and it really helps me nod off.

How dare you talk like that of Dickens Fiction, take that look off your countenance!

[vertigo]

But if you are doing it to help you sleep, something you have little interest is much better than a thriller, or a book you actually want to read.

This is why I play RPGs like DQ4DS at sleep time. That's not a joke It means I make progress in it and enjoy it while I'm still awake but it's also fairly boring and repetitive enough to get me falling asleep within 20 minutes and saving is either the quick save or if I really am nearly asleep just shut the DS

[langley]

How about Portable Island on PSP, that is a very relaxing holiday retreat simulator :

http://www.play-asia.com/paOS-13-71-bl-49-en-15-portable+island-70-1ecv-43-7o.html

Langley

[PeterM]

Phoenix Wright gets me pretty sleepy (I'm a big PW fan!).

Korg DS-10 might be good too.

[noobish hat]

Harvest Moon DX on gameboy color? How about (and I know this doesn't really count as handheld) the island from Gamecube Animal Crossing?

[DeathAdder]

This is why I play RPGs like DQ4DS at sleep time. That's not a joke It means I make progress in it and enjoy it while I'm still awake but it's also fairly boring and repetitive enough to get me falling asleep within 20 minutes and saving is either the quick save or if I really am nearly asleep just shut the DS

Not a bad idea - perhaps next time I'll whack an RPG into the DS and just wander around levelling up for a few minutes when I can't sleep.

[vertigo]

Not a bad idea - perhaps next time I'll whack an RPG into the DS and just wander around levelling up for a few minutes when I can't sleep.

Yeh it's the repetition and general lack of stimulus that helps me fall asleep and if you do get to a story bit that may be important but are falling asleep you can just shut the DS
Don't get me wrong though, DQ4 is a good game, worth picking up anyway if that's your thing, but I won't play it on the train in case I wake up at 2am in a siding in Exeter.

[Ady]

Orbital if you can get the hang of it (I find it incredibly finnicky and, to be honest not fun in the slightest) or maybe Picross.