Best Games For Short Play Sessions


Gaming is intended primarily to be a fun pastime, something you enjoy in your off hours.

However, not everyone has the same amount of free time in a given day. You’ve got work to do, homework to finish, errands to run, or a combination of the three.

As such, not everyone can get sucked into a lengthy, immersive story or lose themselves in endless matchmaking outside the weekends.

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Luckily, games come in all shapes and sizes, and that includes play session length.

Even if you only have 30 minutes to an hour to play games on a given day, there are still plenty of games to enjoy.

10

Balatro

Lasts As Long As Your Luck

Playing a two pair in Balatro

If you know how to play Poker, you know how to play Balatro, at least on a surface level.

The relative simplicity of the game is what gives it its frighteningly addictive properties, but that’s not all there is.

If fortune shines down on you, and you get some quality Jokers, you can start rocketing through the antes at a breakneck pace.

Of course, you could just as easily fumble the entire thing at the last minute, but that’s gambling for you. Rich to zilch in the blink of an eye.

9

The Binding Of Isaac: Rebirth

Has A Built-In Speed Timer

Using Technology weapon in Binding of Isaac Rebirth

Just about any roguelike dungeon crawler is a good choice for the time-strapped.

Since you have to start over every time you die, the levels are never too long.

One game that epitomizes this is The Binding of Isaac: Rebirth.

If you’re skilled enough, you can clear an entire base game run in around 30 minutes, urged along by the built-in speedrun timer.

Actually seeing all of the game’s content will take exponentially longer than that, but we’re talking about individual play sessions here, not total completion.

8

Buckshot Roulette

You Can Stop When You Want

Table with items in Buckshot Roulette

In a similar vein to Balatro, games that rely heavily on gambling and probability tend to be on the shorter side.

Buckshot Roulette makes this exceptionally clear, as you can clear the initial run of the game in around 20 minutes if you don’t end up blowing your head off.

After you finish the initial run, you unlock Double or Nothing mode. In this mode, you can push the envelope as far as you think you can get away with.

If you find yourself with more time after clearing the initial rounds, you can keep it rolling to increase your winnings.

7

Sonic Mania

The Pinnacle Of Speed

Mirage Saloon in Sonic Mania

When it comes to speedy gameplay, the original speed demon could be no one but Sonic the Hedgehog.

If you’re hungry for an arcade-style experience, Sonic Mania’s high-octane levels are perfect for a bit of midday mental stimulation.

Finishing the whole game in a single session might be a bit of a tall order, especially if you want to get all the Chaos Emeralds and see the true ending.

Luckily, unlike in the first couple of Sonic games, you can save between levels and pick it up later.

6

Katamari Damacy Reroll

The King Demands Punctuality

Rolling in the house in Katamari Damacy Reroll

Among his many fabulous qualities, Katamari Damacy’s King of All Cosmos is well known for his strict punctuality.

In just about every one of the game’s levels, he’ll give you a strict time limit to make an adequately-sized Katamari.

These time limits are usually less than 10 minutes, though some of the late-game ones can go as high as 30.

Either way, if you want a short time to pick up lots of stuff while listening to awesome music, you can’t go wrong with this classic game.

5

Monster Prom

Find Love In An Hour

Damien, Scott, and Polly in Monster Prom

Monster Prom is kind of like a midpoint between a video game and a board game, except you can play it either alone or with friends.

The hilarious dialogue and subtle challenge of managing your stats will give you a few laughs and groans in a compact package.

The game offers you options for a short 45-minute game or a full 60-minute game, but it won’t be an all-day affair, no matter what.

The only thing that might increase the time is whether you read everyone’s dialogue in funny voices.

4

Pizza Tower

You’re Supposed To Rush

Escaping from John Gutter in Pizza Tower

Pizza and high speeds have been intertwined ever since the first Domino’s said “30 minutes, or it’s free.”

This is probably why speed is a vital component of Pizza Tower. Just about all of Peppino’s abilities are speed-centric, from his mach dash to his frantic wall-climbing.

When you get to the end of a level, you also have to make a mad dash back to the beginning.

If that weren’t enough, your speed is also one of the qualities you’re graded on at the end. If you’re not finishing fast, you’re not doing it right.

3

Mario Kart 8 Deluxe

Win A Race, Make Lunch

Dry Bones, Koopa, Lakitu, Waluigi, and Toadette in Mario Kart 8 Deluxe

Of course, we can’t have a conversation about speedy gameplay without throwing a racing game in the mix.

Mario Kart 8 Deluxe’s compact tracks generally take around 3 or 4 minutes from start to finish line.

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You can finish a whole race in the time it takes to boil noodles. Even if you wanted to do an entire four-race cup, it still wouldn’t be much of a time commitment.

You can play on your own or online, but no matter what, you’ll get to the finish line at around the same time.

2

Street Fighter 6

Practice On Arcade Ladders

Kimberly attacks Luke in Street Fighter 6

Fighting game arcade ladders have always been a great way to waste some time while still getting a modicum of practice on your favorite character.

Street Fighter 6 offers these arcade ladders for all of its characters. Assuming you don’t get stuck on one fight, you can clear the whole thing in short order.

For an extra bit of customization, you can choose between a 5-fight ladder or a 12-fight ladder.

There are even separate leaderboards for both, so you can still get your rank up even if you’re keeping things low-key.

1

Vampire Survivors

Fun For Exactly 30 Minutes

Bouncing Runetracers in Vampire Survivors

There are many qualities that give Vampire Survivors its enduring appeal, but perhaps one of the most attractive is that you always know exactly how long a session will last.

All normal stages of the game last exactly 30 minutes. The moment the clock strikes 30, the Reaper will appear to put a stop to your shenanigans.

Technically, you can beat the Reaper, but another one will show up every subsequent minute.

If you don’t have 30 minutes, the stages’ unlockable Hurry Modes will sic the Reaper on you after just 15 minutes.

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