The 2018 reboot of God of War is a great game, along with other story-focused games, including The Last of Us Part 2 and Alan Wake 2. These are all wonderfully exciting games in their own way, but they’re not necessarily addictive. Some of the best games out there have great pacing that makes it feel natural when players want to take a break from the action.
Then there are some games wherein the gameplay is so addictive that players cannot be bothered to put the game down. Hours may go by, and important things like eating can be forgotten. Players shouldn’t be careless about their bodies, but that said, these games are indeed worth zoning out to.
8 Gameplay Twists Introduced Very Late In Their Games
Have you made it to these moments in games that switched gameplay up in bizarre ways?
Diablo 4
Loot,Baby, Loot
Diablo 4
- Released
- June 5, 2023
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- Mature 17+ / Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Language, In-Game Purchases, Users Interact
- Genre(s)
- Action RPG, Hack and Slash
The Diablo series is the ultimate loot game that helped establish the genre. While the latest entry, Diablo 4, pushed the franchise to new heights by introducing an open-world and a compelling story, among other innovations, the core gameplay loop remained intact. Follow the story or side quests, kill enemies, level up, and collect loot. What makes the Diablo gameplay even more satisfying is playing with friends and replaying the game with new classes or difficulty levels.
Monster Hunter Wilds
Chasing Armored Dreams
Monster Hunter Wilds
- Released
- February 28, 2025
WHERE TO PLAY
The Monster Hunter series was designed to be replayed repeatedly to obtain the best weapons and armor. Monster Hunter Wilds is the latest entry and the one that’s most accessible, thanks to quality of life changes like the open-world and NPC party members that can join hunts.
Players can create their character, choose a weapon that acts as their class, and then follow the story to unlock new monsters to hunt across several diverse biomes. Replaying hunts is an easy way to grind for materials to make badass-looking armor and weapons to get prepared for the next, even more challenging hunt.
Final Fantasy Tactics: The Ivalice Chronicles
Unlocking That Next Job
Final Fantasy Tactics: The Ivalice Chronicles
- Released
- September 30, 2025
- ESRB
- Teen / Fantasy Violence, Blood, Mild Suggestive Themes, Mild Language, Drug Reference
- Genre(s)
- Tactical, RPG, Strategy
Final Fantasy Tactics: The Ivalice Chronicles is a remaster of a PS1 game, and it’s the best tactical game to get started with. While the story is one of the game’s better elements, the cutscenes don’t overstay their welcome. Players can get back into the action in minutes, whether they want to grind for EXP, Gil, or other materials.
The game's best feature is the Job system, as it can be addicting to try and unlock all of them and their accompanying skills. Final Fantasy Tactics: The Ivalice Chronicles is a game that is balanced to perfection, and the Switch 2 is a great platform for it.
SteamWorld Dig 2
Dirt Meets Pickaxe
SteamWorld Dig 2
- Released
- September 21, 2017
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- e
- Genre(s)
- Indie Games
Digging is one of the most satisfying mechanics in a game, as arcade goers learned in the 80s with Dig Dug. Decades later, SteamWorld Dig 2 mesmerized digging fans with a whole new set of gameplay elements.
As Dorothy, a robot girl, players will use their pickaxe in the mines below. Once they run out of steam or inventory space, they will need to return to town, refuel, sell materials, and repeat. There is more of a point, as it’s also a Metroidvania centered on a rescue mission, but the core mechanic of digging is what players will find most compelling.
Dave The Diver
Sushi Can’t Catch Itself
Dave the Diver
- Released
- June 28, 2023
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- E10+ For Everyone 10+ Due To Fantasy Violence, Use of Alcohol, Mild Blood
- Genre(s)
- Simulation, Adventure
Dave the Diver defies genres, as it is hard to pinpoint exactly what box it falls into. It has elements of a roguelike, as players will dive into the ocean during the day to catch fish, and the waters will provide different feasts in-between runs without any kind of detrimental penalty. At night, players run their sushi bar with what they caught, sort of like a food-based sim game. Both gameplay segments combine into the perfect formula to get players hooked — pun intended.
Loop Hero
It’s In The Name
Loop Hero
- Released
- March 4, 2021
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- T For Teen due to Fantasy Violence, Language, Mild Suggestive Themes
- Genre(s)
- RPG, Roguelike, Strategy
Loop Hero is based on a time loop wherein the end of the world has happened, but one single warrior is determined to help rebuild society. Each run will place players on a specific loop. Going around it can lead to discoveries like equipment or monsters, which will be slain automatically.
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It’s not a passive experience like a clicker game, but it is one of the most chill roguelikes ever made. With simple graphics and an even simpler set of gameplay mechanics, Loop Hero will be an easy game to learn but a hard one to master.
Mercenary Kings: Reloaded Edition
Monster Hunter For Guns
Mercenary Kings
- Released
- July 22, 2013
WHERE TO PLAY
Mercenary Kings: Reloaded Edition is a bit like a mashup between Metal Slug and Monster Hunter. A group of soldiers set up shop on a special island, wherein a mad scientist bred monsters and soldiers, resulting in a big fiasco.
Players are tasked with cleaning up the debacle one quick mission at a time, either alone or with up to three other friends. They will gather materials on a run to make wild guns like a toilet that can shoot exploding bullets. The weapon combinations are both lethal and hilarious, and the animations are beyond gorgeous.
Puzzle Quest: Challenge Of The Warlords
The Challenge Is Putting It Down
Puzzle Quest: Challenge Of The Warlords
- Released
- March 20, 2007
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- e
- Genre(s)
- Puzzle, RPG
Puzzle Quest: Challenge of the Warlords is a novel little combination of puzzle games and RPGs. Players can choose a class and then go on an epic campaign fighting other adventurers and monsters through turn-based puzzle gameplay. Match the right colors, and players can unleash special abilities or chain bonuses together.
Puzzles should go by quickly, making the need to play again that much more addictive. Thanks to recent remasters, most consoles should have a version or two to check out, like Puzzle Quest: The Legend Returns and Puzzle Quest: Immortal Edition.
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