# Advice on small, time-wasting phone games **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Created:** [November 25, 2025, 11:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/advice-on-small-time-wasting-phone-games/1025119 "2025-11-25T11:22:32Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Spice\_Weasel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spice_weasel/32/5435_2.png) [@Spice\_Weasel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spice_Weasel)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2025, 12:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/advice-on-small-time-wasting-phone-games/1025119/21 "2025-11-26T00:33:07Z")
I have a game called Wordsmyth, I paid some trivial amount for it, it’s basically a 3x3 grid of nine letters and you make as many words as you can out of those letters. Very basic concept. Incredibly addicting. Those last words are quite difficult to find. I very rarely get them all in one day. Fortunately you can star a game and keep it for later. Attractive, simple interface, zero ads or annoying pop-ups. It doesn’t even have any intrusive _features._ Everything about it appears designed to give your brain a break. The only real downside is it’s a bit of a battery drain. The developer is working on it. ---
**Author:** ![ekedolphin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ekedolphin/32/10003_2.png) [@ekedolphin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ekedolphin)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2025, 1:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/advice-on-small-time-wasting-phone-games/1025119/22 "2025-11-26T01:00:51Z")
Try a game called Cells to Singularity. It’s a clicker game in the guise of a simulation of life, civilization, technology, the dinosaurs, and the solar system. You learn neat facts along the way, and you get to see your points skyrocket into the octovegintillions. ---
**Author:** ![needscoffee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/needscoffee/32/1076_2.png) [@needscoffee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/needscoffee)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2025, 2:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/advice-on-small-time-wasting-phone-games/1025119/23 "2025-11-26T02:23:09Z")
> [@puzzlegal](#): > > Simon Tatham’s puzzle collection is a set of 40 open-source logic puzzles. Many are similar to a named puzzle without the name, so as to be free. Simon Tatham’s Puzzle Collection has long been a favorite of mine. Net and Keen are the ones I end up playing most often. Sumplete is a nice simple math time-waster. ---
**Author:** ![Railer13](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/railer13/32/9742_2.png) [@Railer13](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Railer13)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2025, 4:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/advice-on-small-time-wasting-phone-games/1025119/24 "2025-11-26T04:14:22Z")
Squardle is another one I like. If you’ve ever played and liked Boggle, then you’ll like Squardle. New game each day, and it’s incredibly addicting. To me, anyway. ---
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2025, 4:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/advice-on-small-time-wasting-phone-games/1025119/25 "2025-11-26T04:22:15Z")
(re Simon Tatham’s puzzles) Net is the one I’ve been playing lately. But when i don’t want to think too hard, i like flood. It’s pretty and satisfying and you can do it somewhat mindlessly if you want to. And map is kinda cool, someone turned the 4 color problem into a game. And if you like untangling string, untangle is weirdly satisfying. (And they are all really free. And none of them is especially addictive, which i like.) ---
**Author:** ![OldManLogan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/oldmanlogan/32/5237_2.png) [@OldManLogan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OldManLogan)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2025, 5:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/advice-on-small-time-wasting-phone-games/1025119/26 "2025-11-26T17:59:19Z")
I’ve been playing Marvel Puzzle Quest since the beginning (found a pack purchase on Jan 2014). My roster is complete except for Galactus but I can’t imagine anyone starting to play it now. The game is fun, easy to understand, while complex in strategy options and play style. But you need a roster guide and massive patience to NOT open cover packs to avoid getting frustrated. Recommend? Yes, it is my go to phone game. Is it possible to get overwhelmed and overspend to increase roster slots? Also yes ---
**Author:** ![Odesio](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/odesio/32/20003_2.png) [@Odesio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Odesio)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2025, 6:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/advice-on-small-time-wasting-phone-games/1025119/27 "2025-11-26T18:04:14Z")
It’s come and gone, but I really enjoyed Angry Birds. ---
**Author:** ![hogarth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hogarth/32/1773_2.png) [@hogarth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hogarth)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2025, 11:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/advice-on-small-time-wasting-phone-games/1025119/28 "2025-11-26T23:48:39Z")
> [@OldManLogan](#): > > I’ve been playing Marvel Puzzle Quest since the beginning (found a pack purchase on Jan 2014). My roster is complete except for Galactus but I can’t imagine anyone starting to play it now. The game is fun, easy to understand, while complex in strategy options and play style. But you need a roster guide and massive patience to NOT open cover packs to avoid getting frustrated. Good point, although I have an unnaturally low level of FOMO so I never had much problem just selling a bunch of covers if I didn’t have enough roster space. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/advice-on-small-time-wasting-phone-games/1025119.md?page=1)