Looking for a way to spend a little spare time? Maybe you’re on the bus on the way to work, bored after school, or just have half an hour or so before bed to kill. While there are plenty of full-on games out there where you really need to be engaged in a story line and put in some serious time, the games on our list are those which you can pick up and put down at any time. Check them out.
1. Mario Kart Tour
Finally the time has come where we no longer have to ask “Who’s got a Nintendo console? I want to play Mario Kart!” Mario Kart Tour is now available on Android devices. The game is a cut down version of Mario Kart, although its best played on new generation, high powered Android devices for best results. While the controls can take a little getting used to, this new version of Mario Kart leaves you feeling satisfied without having to visit that one work friend you don’t really like who has a Switch.
2. I Love Hue
If you’re after a gentle morning or night game while you’re in bed that won’t hype you up too much, then I Love Hue is a great choice. It’s a simple color matching game where you sort squares that’s displayed to the user in soft graduated hues. It’s not a game you can get annoyed at, as each level is winnable, in as many plays as you like. The color puzzles progressively get more difficult, but you can revisit earlier levels for a more relaxed experienced or simply to pick up play again if you haven’t played in a few months.
3. Pokemon Go
A huge hit when it was first released, there’s one great reason that we encourage people to pick up Pokemon Go again (or for the first time!). If you’re a little bored with nothing to do, pick a relatively touristic spot you haven’t really explored in your city to head out and find Pokemon and Gyms. The game will lead you to some cool places simply by its nature, so you get a double dose of entertainment – the game itself, and discovering new places in real life. This is particularly handy when travelling, too, and you don’t want to go to just the ‘top ten places in X.’
4. Path of Adventure
Normally, you wouldn’t be able to say that an adventure game is a casual affair. However, the Path of Adventure is just that. Labelled a “rogue-like text adventure,” it’s perfect for those who like doing battle with mystical creatures and uncovering treasure – in a text based format. Because it’s text-based and turn-based, there’s no need to pay attention 100% of the time. Each ‘story’ you play can be played in under 30 minutes, and while the text can get a little repetitive over many plays, the game still proves to be fun.
5. Solitaire: Decked Out Ad Free
The original time waster, Solitaire still rates highly among players for playability – and perhaps compulsive playing! Solitaire is a one person card game which requires you to collect all the cards in order in each deck. It’s both soothingly to play and compelling, as you can be on the verge of the win and end up in tears. Each game takes around 5-10 minutes to play, so it’s perfect for picking up during small breaks. This one (Decked Out Ad Free) is, as it says, completely ad free which makes for a better experience.
6. BitLife – Life Simulator
This is one of those games which is a full life simulator: from birth, through early childhood and family event, to study and jobs, life’s ups and downs, and all the way through until death. Bit Life is quirky and fun and definitely made for adults, unlike other very G-rated life simulator games. You can pick it up and play whenever you like, seeing whether your lives are great or grotesque.
7. Cook, Serve, Delicious
This one is for fans of cooking games, cooking shows, and even cooking in real life. Cook, Serve, Delicious is one of the few cooking-style games that doesn’t require you to a) be an expert at it, b) wait forever more tokens, or c) spend real money on microtransactions to play. Instead, you purchase the game for a flat fee and away you go. You have diners coming into your restaurant who need you to whip up orders all before the clock runs out, progressively getting more difficult.
8. Infinity Loop
Another game that’s similar to I Love Hue – in that it’s a simple and soothing puzzle game with pleasing, clean aesthetics – Infinity Loop requires players to rotate tiles until they all match infinity loops. The game claims that it will melt your stresses away, and it’s kind of true – playing Infinity Loop feels a lot like meditation at times. So, if you’re a restless soul and can’t keep your mind on your meditation app, try this out instead.
9. Full House Casino – Free Vegas Slots Casino Games
Fancy having a bit of a flutter without the prospect of losing real money at the actual casino? Then Full House Casino should be on your download list, one of the highest-rated casino apps on the play store featuring both table games and slots. Did we mention it’s free? There are fundamental differences between video gaming and online gambling – this one is just for fun, no real money payouts, but the good news is you won’t waste any money (unless you’re grabbing in-app purchases).
10. Hearthstone
We couldn’t write up this list without including a collectible card battle game, and this comes in the form of Hearthstone. It’s a WoW spinoff that’s super engaging to play and has seen plenty of expansion over the years, making it an epic play. It’s a fantasy card battle game, so if you’re a fan of these in real life do yourself a favor and pick it up. Do be aware there can be update issues with this game, so make you’re only updating over wifi.