Gaming can be a great way to spend quality time when you are free. Sometimes, there’s nothing better than sinking hours into the latest sim or RPG. Other times, whether you’re waiting for food to cook, passing the time while waiting for friends, or even if you’re sitting on the bus during a work commute, you don’t have hours to spare, but still want your fill of gaming.
Fortunately, there are plenty of games, in a host of different genres, that will give you an intense shot of enjoyable gaming.
In this blog post, I have listed the top 8 game genres you can play in a quick 5-minute break or for hours.
8 Best Game Genres
1. Slots
Online casinos are a great source of quick gaming fun. Table games like roulette and baccarat are quick, taking just a couple of minutes. For a more immersive gaming experience, consider playing some online slots. At CardPlayer, you can compare trusted online casinos to find those that offer the widest range of slots from some of the biggest names in iGaming.
And, according to online gambling expert Andjelija Blagojevic, slots are among some of the most popular games at online platforms because they are easy to learn and can offer advanced features as well as generous bonuses.
2. Card Games
Card games have been played around the world for centuries. There are thousands of different games as well as many variants of some of the most popular.
Games like solitaire are popular for solo players, while games like bridge pit two pairs of players against one another. There are family games, too. If you prefer digital gaming over analog, most card games have been converted to digital apps. Some can be played on social media websites, while others are popular at casinos and other online gaming portals.
If you do enjoy analog gaming, a deck of cards costs a few bucks, and that’s pretty much all the equipment you need.
3. Mobile Games
Mobile games are nothing new. Snake became a regular feature of Nokia mobile phones in the late 1990s. And it was a phenomenon that many early mobile phone adopters took to with aplomb.
By today’s standards, Snake might seem basic, but while it lacked the graphics of modern hit titles, one thing it had in spades was gameplay. Mobile gaming surpasses PC and console gaming combined, partly due to the vast number of games available. There are more than 700,000 games on the Google Play and Apple App stores combined, in fact.
4. Puzzle Games
There are many sub-genres of puzzle games, meaning there are titles available for all tastes. From word games to number games and physics-based puzzle games to classic brainteasers, these can be found on a variety of platforms.
Modern versions typically have social gaming elements, including friend leaderboards and even head-to-head battles or multiplayer modes. Not only are puzzle games a great way to pass the time, but they can also help keep the mind active and even help with cognitive training.
5. Roguelikes And Roguelites
Rogue was a text-based game launched in 1980. It used permadeath as one of its core gameplay elements, while its levels and items were procedurally generated.
Today, the term “roguelike” describes games that feature procedurally generated elements and permadeath fatalities. But, games can range from traditional dungeon crawlers to card-based games like Balatro. Roguelite is another, related genre, and the two terms are sometimes confused. But the fact that the game ends when the player dies, rather than offering endless respawns, means games tend to be relatively short.
6. Casual Games
Casual games are designed specifically to fill a few minutes at a time. However, some of the best games are very difficult to put down and can lead to extended play sessions, supported by the use of microtransaction purchases.
The games are fun to play and easy to learn. They typically consist of dozens or even hundreds of shorter levels, tasking the player with achieving minimum scores or grabbing several stars or other collectibles according to their performance. Casual games can include word and puzzle games, as well as adventure and arcade titles. Some well-known examples include Angry Birds and Candy Crush Saga.
7. Fighting Games
Although it can take hours upon hours to 100% fighting games, they are generally broken down into multiple individual fights. Each fight can be completed in a few minutes, which makes them ideal for short gaming sessions.
Although mobile fighting games exist, they tend to be more popular on PC and consoles due to the more advanced controls and graphics offered. Common fighting game franchises include Tekken and Mortal Kombat, while classics include Street Fighter and Soulcalibur games.
8. Sports Games
Some sports games can be played in bite-sized chunks. Obviously, playing a full 90-minute soccer game or, worse still, competing in a Gran Turismo 24-hour Le Mans endurance race takes a considerable chunk of your gaming life. Still, titles like Rocket League let you drop in, play a game for a few minutes, and then drop back out.
Some games are loosely based on sporting events, or on specific elements of games. It may include penalty shootouts or soccer training games. These also only last a few minutes a game and offer short bursts of fun gaming.
Final Thoughts
Gaming doesn’t have to be a time sink. These genres prove that even five minutes can be enough to feel entertained, challenged, or relaxed. So next time you’ve got a short break, skip the scroll and pick up a controller, or just tap your screen, and dive into a micro-adventure.
