The slow-game app is the new smoke break

New York

ALL around the world, millions of smartphone users are preparing for war. Pokémon Go has sent players scurrying outside their homes to hunt cartoon critters, chuck virtual balls at them, and then groom their captured characters into a digital army. Advance far enough in the game, and players are invited to join a Pokémon team and stage face-offs at designated gyms - basically, virtual forts - where battle-ready competitors descend to hold their phones with a white-knuckle grip, stare unblinkingly at the screen and tap furiously on one another's Pokémon in a bid to seize control of the territory.

Or not. Users can also just lazily check for Pokémon as they proceed throughout their days, stopping occasionally to scan the app for nearby characters and snapping screen shots on their commute or evening stroll. Marinate on this lower level of game play, and Pokémon Go feels less like a competition and more like a charming little interlude.