Short sessions
Puzzles, casual games and roguelikes where one run takes a few minutes. Handy on a break or a commute, but treacherous because runs easily add up to hours — decide in advance how many you will play.
Games
Games catalogue
Some people only have ten minutes in a queue, others need a whole free evening, and others only play with friends. Instead of a list of titles, we have put together a catalogue of formats: it helps you see which game will fit into your day and which will keep demanding more time than you have.
The most convenient game is the one that adapts to your day, rather than making you rearrange your day around it.
How this section works: it is a catalogue of genres and formats, not titles. We describe how a game usually claims your time and attention, who it is easy to play with and what to consider before choosing. You will not find specific games, studios or shops here.
Formats for your time
Six formats that fit into a daily routine in different ways.
Episodic games
The story is split into chapters or episodes, each of which takes an evening. The natural pause at the end of an episode helps you put the game down on time, like a series after an episode.
Endless games with saves
Sandboxes, building and management games with no ending and always a next task. They work well if the game saves progress at any moment and you plan when to stop yourself.
Co-op
You play through the game together with friends — online or in the same room. A shared goal brings people closer, but remember that everyone has to be free at the same time.
Local multiplayer
Several players at one screen with their own controllers. A great format for a family evening and for guests: no separate devices or online accounts needed.
Slow-paced cosy games
Gardening, decorating a home, gentle journeys with no timers or defeats. Ideal for an evening when you want to unwind rather than compete.
How to choose
Four questions worth asking yourself before you install.
Time
How long one meaningful session lasts and whether you can stop in the middle of it. If a game demands an uninterrupted hour and you usually have twenty minutes, it will frustrate you.
Company
Whether you play alone, as a pair or in a big group, in one room or at a distance. The answer tells you whether you need co-op, split screen or online play.
Controls
How hard the controls are for a beginner or a child to learn. Many games offer simplified schemes and button remapping — check the description for these.
Age rating
The age label shows who the content is intended for. If children will be playing, it is the first filter, not a formality on the back of the box.
Read next
- Guides
Guides for life alongside games: an evening with friends, playing with a child, coming back after a break. Plus our article catalogue.
- Reviews
What to look at to judge whether a game will fit your routine, and how to read other people's reviews.
- Mechanics
Saves, difficulty, in-game purchases, loot boxes, daily quests and online chat, explained in plain words.
- Glossary
A player's dictionary: genres and formats, game mechanics, online play and chat.
What we rely on
- PEGI — about the system
- ESRB — about the system
- Manufacturers' family-settings guides
We write about general principles and habits. Menus, modes and family settings work differently in each game and service and change with updates, so check the details in the official help pages.