I think we all have days when we have little to no free time, but still want to game. I know I often find myself in the unfortunate situation of wanting to play, but not having the time to commit to some of my favorites.
Thankfully, there’s no shortage of games to play when you only have a maximum of 10 to 15 minutes to spare. The games here not only offer satisfying experiences for longer play sessions but can similarly be played in small doses.
10New Pokémon Snap
New Pokémon Snapis both easy to pick up and relaxing to play. The sequel to the critically acclaimed Nintendo 64 classic, players go through several locales via on-rail gameplay with the purpose of photographing Pokémon.
The gameplay loop isn’t much more complicated than that, and each stage is predictable with the amount of time you spend there. Although certain actions can change where you go throughout an area, you’ll almost never be there for more than 15 minutes.
Often calledone of the best Pokémon spin-off games of all time,New Pokémon Snapis a blast to play alone or with others.
9Animal Crossing: New Horizons
Similar toNew Pokémon Snap,Animal Crossing: New Horizonsrequires little of your time and is as easygoing as it gets. After a brief tutorial where Tom Nook explains the basics of the game, you’re free to do whatever you like on your own little island.
Your play sessions can be as lengthy or brief as you wish, as there is next to no commitment involved. you may dedicate several hours to modifying your island or visiting other islands, but can just as easily visit for five to 10 minutes to pull out some weeds. The staggering amount of customization options also ensures you almost always have a project you could work on, too.
8Monster Hunter Wilds
Monster Hunter Wildsmay seem like an odd inclusion, but it is surprisingly easy to begin and finish hunts. For those who haven’t played, the gameplay loop is exactly as the name suggests and involves you hunting monsters.
Hunts can be started by attacking notable monsters as you come across them in any of the game’s locations, but you can also talk to Alma and begin your own, or join another player’s if you’re online. As long as you aren’t hunting something like Zoh Shia, you can typically expect to be done in 10 to 15 minutes. If you’re playing in a group or other players join, hunts likely won’t even be that long, as many players seem to have a deep understanding of each monster’s attacks and movement patterns.
The grind never ends withMonster Hunter Wilds, so getting in an extra hunt or two in your spare time always helps with crafting your next set of gear.
7Tekken 8
Tekken 8is the latest entry in the critically acclaimed fighting game franchise, and is a personal favorite of mine. TheTekkenseries has always required a lot of character knowledge for players to thrive, but the game itself is remarkably low-commitment regarding match time.
Tekken 8’s online is still thriving, so once you choose what mode you want to play, you’ll find a match in no time. In most match types, the player who secures three rounds first wins. Despite that being more than most fighting games, which only require you to win two rounds, matches conclude quickly due toTekken 8’s incredibly fast pace. Even if you were to do a best-of-three set, you’ll probably be done in about 10 minutes.
Notably, other fighting games, such asStreet Fighter 6andSuper Smash Bros. Ultimate, are superb options, too.
6Yu-Gi-Oh! Master Duel
Yu-Gi-Oh! Master Duelis a love letter to card game enthusiasts and fans of the anime series. Available on mobile and console platforms, as well as PC, the free-to-play hit doesn’t demand much of your time, though it admittedly can take a while to learn its rules and intricacies.
Yu-Gi-Oh! Master Duelfollows the exact same rules as its real-life variant and features the same cards, though the ban list and card release order differ. Regardless of whether you do ranked, casual, or friendly duels against friends, matches can range from several seconds (some people really do not like certain decks) to about 10 minutes. The game is catered more to online play, but there is Solo Mode, which tasks you with using pre-made decks against the AI (or you’re able to use your own).
Pokémon TCG Pocket - Card Gameis another great recommendation if you’re more of a Pokémon fan. I’ll also note, as someone who loves trading card games, Pokémon is much easier to learn.
5Marvel Rivals
Taking the world by storm late last year,Marvel Rivalsis perfect for providing a superhero fantasy in small doses.
The 6v6 team shooter has an incredibly active playerbase, and though ranked matches can sometimes run a little long, Quick Play and Practice vs. AI matches are short and sweet. Unless the match type happens to be Domination, even if you take hero selections into consideration, a match shouldn’t exceed 10 minutes. Quick Play and Practice vs. AI are also great for trying out heroes you’re unfamiliar with since there’s nothing really at stake.
Marvel Rivalsfrequently introduces limited-time events that are similarly short, so you’ll always have a couple of game modes at your disposal to choose from.
4Fall Guys
Fall Guysreleased in 2020 and is still going strong today. Taking control of a customizable Bean, you compete in a series of mini-games against up to 31 other players.
The mini-games are all relatively straightforward and most don’t last for more than a few minutes, meaning even if you make it to the final round, your entire in-game time should only be around 15 minutes.Fall Guysis a fun, carefree game to play by yourself, but it’s even more enjoyable to indulge with friends.
One of the best things aboutFall Guysis that it’s free, so it requires little time to play and no monetary investment.
3Mario Kart World
Mario Kart Worlddefinitely fits the bill when it comes to quick, but satisfying, games. Whether you play online or offline, single races are never more than a few minutes long, making it easy to get one or two in when you have some downtime.
When playing offline, even if you do one of the longer game modes like Grand Prix or Knockout Tour, you can always pause the game, put your Switch 2 in sleep mode, and finish it later. Though you can’t do that when racing online, at most you’ll spend about 15 minutes in a race, and that’s only if you last until the final stretch in Knockout Tour. Time Trials, VS Race, and Free Roam are all low-time investments, and can also be stopped at a moment’s notice if you’re playing alone.
Mario Kart Worldisone of the essential Nintendo Switch 2 launch titles, so if you are thinking about picking up the console, I’d snag this game too. If you have no intention of getting a Switch 2,Mario Kart 8 Deluxeworks just as well, especially if you’re playing online, since most game types only have one race going on at a time.
2Hades
Many roguelites and roguelikes fit well on this list, butHadeswill always be a standout game for its visceral, gratifying gameplay.Hadesrevolves around Zagreus, who is attempting to escape the Underworld, but will likely encounter the sting of death many times on his journey.
Hadesis an easy recommendation because of its satisfying combat, vast character build variety, and the fact that your inevitable deaths are actually tied into the narrative. You might be inclined to think being skilled at the game correlates to more of a time investment since you won’t be dying. However,Hadesauto-saves in every chamber, making it effortless to pick up and put down. You either complete a chamber and can stop, which is usually in five or so minutes, or you die and can simply save to try again some other time.
If you’ve never ventured into the genre, I guaranteeHadesis agame that will turn anyone into a roguelike fan.
1Rocket League
Rocket Leagueisn’t just a suggestion for a game to play when you don’t have much time, it’s a fantastic game to play, period. I always describe it as Hot Wheels cars playing soccer, and it’s just as fun as it sounds.
Standard matches have a five-minute timer, but even if the game goes into overtime, you probably won’t be in a single match for more than 10 minutes. Despite coming out almost 10 years ago,Rocket Leaguestill has a very active playerbase, and it should be easy to find a match, no matter your rank. There are also a variety of game modes to try, so you’re sure to find one that resonates with you. LikeFall Guys, I highly advocate playing it with friends if you can, as high-levelRocket Leagueis unbelievably fun and hectic.
Another plus is thatRocket Leagueis free, so the barrier to entry is almost non-existent due to it being available on virtually every gaming platform.
While it’s a shame that we often don’t have enough time to play certain games, we’re lucky that so many exist that can be played on a dime. From card games, to fighters, to kart racers, no matter your preferred genre, there’s sure to be something on this list you’ll like.
