10 Video Games Perfect For People With Busy Lives

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Back in the day, video games were typically just a few hours long. Nowadays, titans like Baldur’s Gate 3 can span over a hundred hours. Not everyone has that much leisure time at their disposal. Luckily, there are numerous excellent games out there that you can fit into your downtime.

Here’s a list of top games perfect for those with limited time. You’ll find roguelikes offering quick ten-minute sessions along with big, AAA titles that can be completed within a weekend. This collection also highlights some visually stunning, compact games that I hope you’ll enjoy!

1) Vampire Survivors

As a gamer, I’d say: “In Vampire Survivors, you jump into the action choosing from over a hundred unique characters. The goal? Stay alive for 15 to 30 minutes amidst an onslaught of enemies that never stop coming. Your character wields their weapon automatically, and you’re tasked with strategizing your moves during each stage to level up, snag new weapons, trigger passive effects, and more. Plus, the freedom to customize your build adds a layer of excitement. Whether I triumph or fall, I always walk away with some currency to invest in upgrades for my next run, making each attempt even more enjoyable.

The roguelike shoot ’em up style of “Vampire Survivors” makes it incredibly hard to resist playing. Its intuitive learning process means even the busiest individuals can pick it up quickly. What sets it apart is its flexibility – you can play it during your lunch break, on the subway, or anywhere else. In essence, “Vampire Survivors” offers a fun way to pass time, and secondly, it provides numerous characters, items, stages, and effects to unlock. Every moment you spend playing contributes towards achieving goals that make future gameplay easier.

2) 20 Minutes Till Dawn

In simple terms, “20 Minutes Till Dawn” can be likened to a dark, gothic adaptation of “Vampire Survivors.” These games share a similar gameplay structure, though with minor variations. To begin with, “20 Minutes Till Dawn” carries an unsettling ambiance reminiscent of H.P. Lovecraft’s works. The most significant distinction lies in the combat system. Unlike “Vampire Survivors,” “20 Minutes Till Dawn” requires you to manually aim your weapons, making it more challenging and technical.

In contrast to each other, these games feature distinct weapon types: “20 Minutes Till Dawn” leans towards guns, kunai, and elemental abilities, while “Vampire Survivors” offers a wider variety. Both games let players gain currencies and unlock new characters or power-ups, but “Vampire Survivors” is richer in content. If you’re new to these games, I’d recommend starting with “Vampire Survivors” for its extensive features. Once you’ve exhausted that game, “20 Minutes Till Dawn” will provide a similar experience.

3) Mafia: Definitive Edition

So far, we’ve only featured small indie games. But don’t worry if you’re craving something more AAA. Look no further! “Mafia: Definitive Edition” is a remake of the 2002 action-adventure game, “Mafia”. This game narrates a gripping tale about the ascendancy and downfall of Tommy Angelo. Initially a modest taxi driver, Tommy’s life takes an unexpected turn when he crosses paths with the Salieri crime family, leading him to become a ruthless gangster.

Regarding the captivating storyline, Mafia: Definitive Edition clocks in at around 10 hours. Set in a fictionalized 1930s Illinois, the architecture and map layout accurately reflect the era. The combat and driving mechanics are well-refined, but it’s the narrative that holds your attention throughout. The game is rich with scripted events, including car chases, daring heists, and large-scale gang conflicts. Essentially, Mafia: Definitive Edition offers a cinematic gaming experience, allowing you to enjoy both a movie and a video game simultaneously.

4) Dead Cells

Dead Cells” is a unique blend of roguelike and metroidvania genres, and it’s widely recognized as one of the best games in this fusion. In the game, you play as The Prisoner, navigating through various landscapes while battling a formidable final boss. The environments are created algorithmically, offering a fresh experience each time you play. Mini-bosses, weapons, and shopkeepers appear randomly throughout these environments. The combat is fast-paced, with quick long-range and melee attacks that make defeating monsters feel responsive and satisfying.

The enjoyable aspect of the game, “Dead Cells,” lies within its progressive system. Upon defeating the final enemy, you’re instantly transported back to the starting landscape. However, on this new journey, an assortment of fresh weapons, permanent enhancements, routes, and other elements are accessible for your use. The game is playable across consoles, PCs, and mobile devices, with each version offering the same high-quality graphics and animations. This means that no matter what platform you choose, you can quickly launch “Dead Cells” and immerse yourself in the world of monster hunting.

5) The Rogue Prince of Persia

You might refer to “The Rogue Prince of Persia” as a humorous, parkour-centric spin on “Dead Cells.” The level design shares similarities with other platform games, featuring various biomes. What sets it apart is that the player character can scale poles, wall-run, and execute double jumps. This enhances movement, giving an impression of swiftly gliding through levels.

Engaging in combat feels akin to playing Dead Cells. Ground battles are almost indistinguishable. In contrast, The Rogue Prince of Persia places greater importance on acrobatics, making air combat exceptionally rewarding. The character can execute numerous aerial attacks such as slamming the ground, double jump slices, and other agile maneuvers. Each environment is dotted with adversaries and non-playable characters. The unpredictability of randomized environments guarantees a unique experience each time, while the non-linear storytelling provides fresh pieces of the narrative during every playthrough. This loop keeps you hooked, especially if you’re fond of platformers, so get ready for repeated playthroughs!

6) Frostpunk

In a post-apocalyptic world where the environment is frosty and harsh, “Frostpunk” presents a unique survival challenge by offering a city-building gameplay experience. Your primary task involves igniting a massive heater and constructing a settlement around it to ensure survival. Initially, you’ll have control over approximately a hundred citizens, who must be delegated specific tasks to generate essential resources. As your city grows, you’ll have the opportunity to explore new areas of the frozen world, send out expeditions, and expand your territory further. Over time, more people will flock to your city, placing the responsibility on you for managing all aspects, from creating laws to setting up homes.

In a fresh and engaging style, Frostpunk blends strategic planning, construction, and narrative elements in a unique fashion. The storyline spans approximately ten hours, but with effective strategy, it can be finished in just five. An added bonus is that once you’ve conquered the tale, an unending mode becomes available, allowing you to continually evolve your city without limits.

7) The Wolf Among Us

Among the collection of episodic adventure games by Telltale Games, “The Wolf Among Us” stands out as an enduring masterpiece. This game presents a captivating narrative where well-known characters from fiction reside in one town. You’ll encounter figures such as Red Riding Hood, Sleepy Hollow, Bluebeard, and many others. A series of peculiar murders are taking place throughout the town, so in your role as the sheriff, you must delve into the mystery to uncover the truth.

Episodic adventure games stand out as top choices. These games are structured into distinct episodes, each with a clear beginning and end. Typically, an episode spans one to two hours, making it convenient to play throughout the week at your leisure. The engaging dialogues combined with the visually stunning game The Wolf Among Us cater to both your desire for a captivating TV series and an immersive gaming experience.

8) Papers, Please

While it’s certainly possible to complete “Papers, Please” on a PC as well, the game is designed to offer an optimal experience on mobile devices. It’s a straightforward point-and-click game that incorporates puzzle elements, setting you up as an immigration officer at a border checkpoint. Your task is to scrutinize each passport and ticket carefully, looking for forgeries or potential threats trying to infiltrate the country. The mobile format makes this intense, decision-making experience even more immersive and engaging.

Papers, Please” may seem repetitive at first glance, but it quickly becomes engaging as you grasp its mechanics. Each level lasts between 20-30 minutes and consistently introduces new elements. As an immigration officer, you’re constantly sorting through documents, allowing or denying immigrants entry. Over time, the thrill of excelling at your job sets in. However, be mindful that your performance impacts your fictional family’s livelihood – the worse you perform, the more resources they lose, and the closer they are to being evicted. Unlike most games, “Papers, Please” is a unique twist on the point-and-click genre that you should experience regardless of your available playtime. Hail Arstotzka!

9) Stray

Stray is an indie game that follows the story of a wandering cat who ends up beneath the surface. Playing as the cat, you’ll navigate puzzles, progress down a main path, and interact with various non-player characters (NPCs). During your travels, you’ll come across robots, hidden cities, and peculiar devices. You’ll explore beautiful landscapes, uncover new locations, and ultimately embark on an emotionally moving adventure filled with intrigue by the end.

Stray essentially functions as a brief exploratory simulator with puzzle-solving at its core. This game is approximately five hours long and features limited mechanics, primarily movement. Yet, despite the lack of action or expansive landscapes, its stunning visuals consistently leave you in awe, making it an engaging journey worth experiencing, even for those pressed for time.

10) V Rising

V Rising is an action role-playing game that allows multiple players and includes base-building features. You assume the role of a newly awakened vampire thrown into a vast world. The world map consists of various regions, each with its unique appearance, enemies, treasures, and bosses. Your objective is to defeat each boss sequentially, accumulate resources, construct your own vampire castle, and enslave humans to work for you.

In addition to being top-notch, the multiplayer feature allows you to interact with other players in various ways. Whether you’re exploring their castles, forming alliances with them, embarking on raids together, or deciding to battle and plunder their bases, there’s plenty of action to keep you engaged in V Rising. One of the game’s standout features is its segmentation into numerous smaller achievements. This structure allows you to progress at your own pace, with rewards for careful advancement. Just be aware that time moves swiftly within V Rising, which could potentially cause you to miss some scheduled events.

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2025-06-28 15:11