Any game can be played in thirty-minute intervals. That said, not every game works well if players are on a time crunch. For example, players may be able to squeeze in a match or two of Call of Duty multiplayer, but if matches go over, they may need to be abandoned, which can hurt reputation.
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Then there are open-world games with great save features like Fallout 3. Unfortunately, playing for thirty minutes at a time in an open-world game can be confusing, as players may forget what they were doing. These other games are more suitable for quick bite-sized sessions across a wide array of genres.
Animal Crossing: New Horizons
Check Up On Your Homestead
Animal Crossing: New Horizons
- Released
- March 20, 2020
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- Everyone / Comic Mischief, Mild Fantasy Violence, Users Interact, In-Game Purchases
- Genre(s)
- Simulation
Animal Crossing: New Horizons is designed to be played in short bursts, or else things will start to get tedious, like most chill simulation games. After establishing their house, players are left alone to cultivate their land, from destroying rocks to planting things like apple trees. It takes about two hours to really feel adjusted, but after that, players will learn to log in every day, play for about thirty minutes, and then peace out when all daily tasks are accomplished.
Hades
Escape The Underworld
Hades
- Released
- December 6, 2018
WHERE TO PLAY
Hades is the roguelike of all roguelikes, and players can’t get enough of it. Like all roguelikes, it takes some adjustments to feel comfortable with the game’s combat rhythm. A run can last anywhere from ten minutes to a perfect thirty, but never more, and players may even be able to “beat” Hades within this time limit. There’s so much more to the game, though, and it’s one of the most rewarding roguelikes around, thanks to death never truly feeling like defeat.
Super Mario World
A Classic Returns
Super Mario World
- Released
- August 23, 1991
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- E For Everyone
- Genre(s)
- Platformer
Super Mario World has remained a gem since it launched on the SNES in 1991 in North America. Thanks to the Switch’s and Switch 2’s SNES library online, players can take this classic on the go.
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Levels can be completed within a few minutes, and each one brings something new to the table, from jumping dolphins to giant Bullet Bills chasing Mario. Players can complete more than a handful of levels wherever they have a spare thirty, or even fifteen minutes, which applies to many 2D Mario games.
Mario Kart World
A Race A Day, Keeps Bowser Away
Mario Kart World
- Released
- June 5, 2025
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- Everyone // Mild Fantasy Violence, Users Interact
- Genre(s)
- Racing, Open-World
Switch 2 fans should also pop out Mario Kart World whenever they feel the need for speed. Players can easily complete a full, four-course circuit in Mario Kart World within thirty minutes offline. If they feel up to the challenge and want to race against their free time, then they can also try to race online or compete in other modes for glory. Players can also explore the world and get some collectibles if they so choose, but again, exploring open-world games in short spurts is not recommended.
Broforce
For Freedom!
Broforce
- Released
- October 15, 2015
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- t
- Genre(s)
- Shooter
There are plenty of throwbacks to run and gun shooters out there, but Broforce has to be the most chaotic. In each level, players get assigned a representation of an iconic action hero from some of the best movies around. Brominator is a play on The Terminator, who carries a Gatling Gun, and Ellen Ripbro is a spoof on Ellen Ripley from the Alien franchise, who carries a flamethrower. There are dozens of characters that swap out like extra lives in a platformer, the environments are all destructible, and it contains an endless amount of fun for any amount of time, as levels will go by quickly.
Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney Trilogy
Just Like Reading A Book
Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney Trilogy
- Released
- February 7, 2012
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- T For Teen Due To Use of Tobacco, Blood, Suggestive Themes, Violence
- Genre(s)
- Visual Novel, Mystery
Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney Trilogy combines the original three games, which started on the GBA, got upgraded on the DS, and are now in HD. Each game follows a few court cases wherein players have to deduce bad testimony and investigate crime scenes.
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They can pop in and read through grizzly setups and charming dialogue for thirty minutes and then put the game down. Most visual novel games are great for short bursts like this, and the Ace Attorney series was an early pioneer in this medium, at least to help popularize it in North America in the early 2000s.
Peglin
Peggle But With Goblins
- Developer: Red Nexus Games
- Publisher: Red Nexus Games, IndieArk
- Released: April 25, 2022
- Platform: Android, iOS, PC, Switch
Peglin is another roguelike, but it’s much different compared to Hades. As a little goblin, players will go through a series of randomly generated levels, fighting opponents through Peggle-based gameplay. Players can get bonuses for their ball that can help clear out enemies faster before their goblin dies and the session ends. Similar to other puzzle games, it’s addictive, and the added roguelike and RPG hooks make it even more hard to put down. With proper restraint, it’ll be good for thirty minutes guaranteed.
The King Is Watching
Roguelike Tactics
The King is Watching
- Released
- July 21, 2025
WHERE TO PLAY
- Genre(s)
- Roguelite, Strategy
The King is Watching is a roguelike, but one that twists a popular genre. It’s kind of like a mini-Civilization game or RTS wherein different characters will have varied campaign setups. Players will have to grow their kingdom, square by square, to get resources. Resources can then be used to create different squares from marketplaces to barracks, which will help defend the kingdom. Sessions vary in time, but even the best runs won’t last more than thirty minutes, if players can will themselves away from The King is Watching’s simple charms.
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