Do you often find yourself with downtime and don’t know what to do? Maybe you feel a little bored and are struggling to fill your evenings with entertainment? What you need is a good game to play! Whether it’s an online casino game, console title, mobile app or PC game, there are many options that allow you to spend a few hours with your mind switched off.
We know that it can be difficult settling on a game to play, though. First, you need to think about what devices you can play games on. Maybe you have an Xbox or PlayStation? Or perhaps you have a gaming PC? Many people prefer to simply play games on their smartphone.
After that, check out the list we’ve created below, which includes 14 games that offer fantastic entertainment value. We’ve played each of these games and can attest to the fun you can have with them!
1. Aviator – a fun “crash” game
When you delve into sites like CasinoTopsOnline, you can find an amazing range of instant win games and casino games at sweepstakes casinos. One of our favorite casino-style games is Aviator. Developed by SPRIBE, this game offers amazing entertainment at sweepstakes casinos.
The premise is simple – you watch a plane take off and attempt to fly. The aim is to jump out before the plane crashes. The longer you wait, the higher your payout multiplier grows. However, if you don’t jump out before the crash, you win nothing! The rounds are short, and you can find this fun game at various sweepstakes casinos and online casinos for both free play and real-money play.
2. Diablo 4 – gory RPG action
Diablo 4 continues to be one of the most popular RPG games and it has released several “seasons” that add additional content and storylines to the game. You choose one of four different starting characters – rogue, barbarian, necromancer or druid. Each of these has their own special abilities and equipment.
You then level up your stats and gear, and fight a seemingly unending horde of demonic beasts and fanatical cultists. The game looks incredible and the strategic elements are brilliant. If you enjoy testing different builds and trying to do insane amounts of damage, this game is for you.
3. Minecraft – unleash your imagination
Minecraft is THE game if you want to be creative and use your imagination. This is a sandbox survival/creative game where you mine different blocks such as wood, stone and ores. You can then craft items using these blocks. The survival aspect is fun, but it’s what you can do in a Minecraft world that is truly entertaining. It’s possible to build entire cities and worlds – you are limited only by your imagination.
4. Call of Duty: Modern Warfare III
Modern Warfare III represents the latest in the COD series and it is a great timewaster on both consoles and PCs. There isn’t too much to think about when playing this game – you pick a loadout, choose your weapons and jump into the intense FPS action, trying to rack up as many kills as possible! There are of course killstreak rewards, and different game modes such as capture the flag. Nothing beats a good fighting session on MWF3!
5. Old School RuneScape – retro RPG action
If you want to get into the grind and spend some time chopping trees, fighting goblins or fishing, Old School RuneScape is the game for you! This game has been around forever and it continues to have incredible playability. You control a character, and your aim is to make your way through the fantasy world, complete quests and “level up” different skills that includes cooking, strength, magic and agility, for example.
6. Fortnite – battle royale mayhem
Although Fortnite isn’t as popular as when it was in its heyday, it’s still incredible fun. We all know how this game works – you jump out of the Battle Bus and loot buildings to pick up weapons and supplies. You then have to fight against 99 other players in a battle for supremacy, in full battle royale action. The game continues to introduce new maps, weapons and game modes, and is always good fun.
7. Pokémon Go – tech and the outside world combined
Would you believe that Pokémon Go has been going since 2016? It’s one of the most endearing games of its genre and it has been incredibly successful. If you’ve never played this game, you’re in for a treat!
The premise is simple – you go outside (yes, actually outside, in real life!) with your smartphone and use your virtual avatar to catch Pokémon! The game uses GPS technology and AR to bring the little pocket monsters to life, and allows you to catch them on the street or at your local park by throwing Poké balls.
Over the years, the game has introduced new features such as gyms, boss battles and global events. It’s the perfect game if you want to combine entertainment and exercise!
8. Marvel Snap – epic TCG action
There are hundreds of different trading card games (TCGs) available, but Marvel Snap stands out as it does things a little differently. The gameplay is quick-fire and most PVP matches last a maximum of five minutes. As you play, you collect a huge roster of Marvel heroes and villains – each of which has its own stats and special abilities.
You can then use these cards to craft decks that you can do battle with. This is part of the fun – trying to come up with powerful decks with the abilities of different cards synergizing together. The game has fantastic support and new cards are generally released to coincide with new Marvel movies and TV series.
9. Candy Crush Saga – classic match-3 gameplay
We return to Candy Crush Saga periodically and it’s a fantastic time-waster. This is one of the original smartphone match-3 games and it has always been immensely popular. When playing Candy Crush, you work through a series of levels and have to match different sweets and candies to make them explode to earn points.
Different candies have different special abilities, such as clearing all the candies of a particular color. It’s not too taxing and there are hundreds of levels to play – all for free.
10. Hell Let Loose – strategic WW2 FPS action
Hell Let Loose is a strategic FPS game that requires a little more forethought and planning compared to intense games like Call of Duty. Set in WW2, Hell Let Loose pits the Allies and Axis forces against each other in a series of operations with such iconic locations as Omaha Beach and Stalingrad.
You can take the role of different combatants, such as a trooper, engineer or tank commander, each of which has different weapons, tools and abilities. This is a great time killer and it’s incredibly fun when you join in with the team chats.
Screen time is more or less a constant these days and, if it is limited and monitored, it has its place. However, quiet evenings and rainy days offer an ideal opportunity to switch to low-tech activities that help to build skills and bring everyone together. From card games to puzzles, and including creative play, the right mix of games can help children develop memory, logic, and problem-solving skills which will serve them well, all while having fun.
11. Card Games: Building Strategy and Focus
Classic card games can do much more than serve as entertainment. They can also encourage critical thinking, pattern recognition, and math skills.
While we think of Blackjack as a casino game, it can be surprisingly accessible and fun when adapted for kids. With simplified rules, it helps to build quick calculation skills and probability-based decision-making.
Games such as Go Fish, Concentration, and Solitaire improve focus and recall, while older children may enjoy the likes of Hearts and Spades, which hone strategic thinking and co-operation in team settings.
If you’re feeling ambitious, you may also want to give Bridge a try. Its reputation as a brainy game can make it feel like a step too far, but once you get the hang of it it can hone all of the skills other card games do, but at higher intensity. You can even practice online to be sure you’ve got the theory down.
12. Puzzles and Logic Games
If you want something a little more animating than a card game, puzzles and games of logic can expand on the above skills and introduce a bit of color and imagination. Jigsaw puzzles are a great way to introduce problem-solving, and as kids get older they can be made more complex and interesting. Grid games such as Sudoku can also elevate decision-making skills, and printing off a grid that you can work on together helps to hone collaboration.
Crossword puzzles offer a lot of the above and are also useful for developing language skills; indeed, they are customizable to allow for practice in a range of areas, from boosting English vocabulary to helping with foreign language skill. They can be highly absorbing too; you may find yourself wanting to kill ten minutes and watch an hour fly by.
13. Word and Vision Games
Building on the crossword concept, games such as Scrabble, Boggle and similar titles can make vocabulary practice enjoyable, and they also introduce tactical and lateral thinking. Many of us will open the Scrabble box and try to play the longest words we can think of, but it’s not always about the number of letters used; playing ZA on a triple word score can deliver 33 points; that’s more than twice as many points as HANDBAG, which looks like a more impressive play at first glance.
Games that have a more visual element can also be useful for sharpening observation skills and lateral thinking. There are few games more enjoyable, for example, than Pictionary, which also helps kids learn to work as a team. Working out how to draw “winter”, for example, forces the player with the marker to consider what their teammate would expect to see and what would lead them to guess that word in the shortest possible time.
14. Movement-Based Indoor Games
There is a tendency to think about brain-boosting games as being something that have to be done sitting down. But there are some excellent options that are not at all sedentary and actually help with thinking outside the box. Scavenger hunts blend cognitive skill-building with physical exercise, while even games like Marco Polo and Hide and Seek can deliver lessons in logic and spatial awareness.
There are also games that can make a very clear link between movement and vocabulary. As an example, this could be broken down as follows: “When I name a color, you jump; when I name a shape, you clap; when I name an animal, you kneel”. You can replace any of the actions with other actions such as spinning or waving, and any of the categories with themed ones such as “Verb, Noun, Adjective” or “A-B-C”, making the categories and movements more complex as age groups get older.
It’s not just kids who learn more easily when they have fun; team-building exercises in workplaces and educational songs have been credited with allowing adults to hone their knowledge. By introducing play into those long evenings and including a learning element, you can help everyone enhance their knowledge and have a good time together.
Chase Away the Boredom With These 14 Games
Whether you prefer brain games that make you think, gory fighting action, or games that allow your creativity to flourish, there is something for everyone in this list! Our top picks are Minecraft and Pokémon Go. Minecraft has limitless possibilities, and we keep returning to this game year after year. Similarly, Pokémon Go is brilliant if you want some entertainment but also like to keep fit and enjoy the great outdoors. Enjoy!