# Recommendations for very casual game **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Created:** [August 13, 2013, 3:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommendations-for-very-casual-game/666140 "2013-08-13T15:53:16Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Athena](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/35a633/32.png) [@Athena](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Athena)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2013, 3:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommendations-for-very-casual-game/666140/1 "2013-08-13T15:53:16Z")
I need a new game. Normally, I play all-engrossing BIG games. Bioshock, Fallout, Civ, etc. This is NOT what I’m looking for. What I’m looking for is what I consider an in-between timewaster game. Throughout the day, I have little breaks where I want something to fill the time while I wait for things. For example, I’m waiting on a software build right now that will take about 15 minutes. Or I wait for Mr. Athena to get done with something so we can go somewhere or do something. Or I’m on hold waiting to talk to a human and I want something to do while I wait. Basically, I need something like this: - runs well in a window. I can’t have it taking up my entire screen because I’m often monitoring something else while I play. - starts up FAST. I don’t want something that I have to wait 2-3 minutes to load because I might only have 5 or 10 minutes to play. - can be paused at any time. I’m not going to tell the person I’m on hold with to wait because I’m almost done with this level. I have to be able to pause it on a moment’s notice. - is very casual. Civilization, for example, fits some of these criteria, but I find it’s hard to play Civ in small spurts because I need to pay attention to what’s going on a bit more than I can for this type of game. Previous games that have fit this category are games like [10000000](http://eightyeightgames.com/), Tetris and card games like Freecell. I’m not into Tower Defense games or things like Angry Birds. For whatever reason, they don’t do it for me. What would be ideal is something arcade-y, like 10000000, but I’m having trouble finding that right quality of arcade + not dumb. Anyone? ---
**Author:** ![Ike\_Witt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ike_witt/32/283_2.png) [@Ike\_Witt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ike_Witt)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2013, 6:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommendations-for-very-casual-game/666140/2 "2013-08-13T18:11:04Z")
How about [Limbo](http://limbogame.org/)? ---
**Author:** ![HookerChemical](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/278dde/32.png) [@HookerChemical](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HookerChemical)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2013, 6:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommendations-for-very-casual-game/666140/3 "2013-08-13T18:22:23Z")
FTL fits the bill, is cheap, and very repayable. ---
**Author:** ![Mithras](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f04885/32.png) [@Mithras](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mithras)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2013, 6:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommendations-for-very-casual-game/666140/4 "2013-08-13T18:41:41Z")
I started playing [Papers, Please](http://www.gog.com/game/papers_please) recently. It’s a simple but, to me at least, surprisingly fun and twisted game. I believe you can pause it at any time (though your progress is only saved in 10 to 15 minute blocks) and it can be coerced to run in windowed mode. ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2013, 6:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommendations-for-very-casual-game/666140/5 "2013-08-13T18:45:20Z")
Portal loads up quick, can be paused, and allows you to save and come back to where you are any time. ---
**Author:** ![Athena](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/35a633/32.png) [@Athena](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Athena)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2013, 7:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommendations-for-very-casual-game/666140/6 "2013-08-13T19:33:20Z")
All of these look cool, and I may end up buying some of them for non-casual-play, but none are really exactly what I’m looking for. Portal, for example, I love, but there’s no way I’m going to think through one of the portal puzzles while I’m on hold or something. It’s extremely un-fun for me to be halfway through figuring out a puzzle and then having to quit and go do something else. I need brainless and fun. More “peggle” less “ongoing storyline and engrossing puzzles.” More arcade-game-ish is good, too. ---
**Author:** ![Arrogance\_Ex\_Machina](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/arrogance_ex_machina/32/192_2.png) [@Arrogance\_Ex\_Machina](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Arrogance_Ex_Machina)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2013, 7:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommendations-for-very-casual-game/666140/7 "2013-08-13T19:40:46Z")
Maybe a browser game, then? [Kings and Legends](http://www.kongregate.com/games/GameFuse/kings-and-legends) is a freemium card game with the solo PvE part of it being completely turn-based. As long as you don’t mind the usual tricks they use to try to get you to pay RL cash, it can provide a fair amount of fun for free. PvP matches and the 4-player boss fights have 30 second turns but if you aren’t serious about the game you can just ignore those parts of the game. ---
**Author:** ![clairobscur](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/839c29/32.png) [@clairobscur](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/clairobscur)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2013, 12:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommendations-for-very-casual-game/666140/8 "2013-08-14T00:44:56Z")
> [@Mithras](#): > > I started playing [Papers, Please](http://www.gog.com/game/papers_please) recently. It’s a simple but, to me at least, surprisingly fun and twisted game. I believe you can pause it at any time (though your progress is only saved in 10 to 15 minute blocks) and it can be coerced to run in windowed mode. Just tried it, following your post. Fun at start, but I think it becomes quickly tedious. Also, I’m unable to feed my family, even after the death of my uncle and mother-in-law. It seems you really need to be quick to get by, and hitting keys or moving around stuff quickly isn’t my forte. It doesn’t seem you can survive by making the best choices and optimizing your procedure if you’re on the slow side with a computer. ---
**Author:** ![clairobscur](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/839c29/32.png) [@clairobscur](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/clairobscur)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2013, 12:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommendations-for-very-casual-game/666140/9 "2013-08-14T00:52:21Z")
Couldn’t edit in time (see…I’m really slow) : Maybe memorizing place names, stamps, etc… better would have allowed me to get by. Not sure. ---
**Author:** ![Jragon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e19b73/32.png) [@Jragon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jragon)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2013, 1:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommendations-for-very-casual-game/666140/10 "2013-08-14T01:06:09Z")
There’s Uplink by Introversion. It’s a game about Hollywood-style hacking. There’s ostensibly a storyline – in that there’s four or five missions that aren’t randomly generated, but you can ignore them if you want. The missions are rather short, and don’t require too much to figure out. My only complaint is that it can get a bit samey and hits the spot of obnoxiously obtuse for newcomers and obscenely easy once you figure out all the tricks (once you figure out how to rob a bank you’ve basically won every mission because of how beastly your new computer will be). ---
**Author:** ![Ethilrist](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ethilrist/32/4604_2.png) [@Ethilrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ethilrist)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2013, 1:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommendations-for-very-casual-game/666140/11 "2013-08-14T01:12:35Z")
Plants vs. Zombies. ---
**Author:** ![TATG](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/50afbb/32.png) [@TATG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TATG)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2013, 1:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommendations-for-very-casual-game/666140/12 "2013-08-14T01:15:57Z")
VVVVVV very simple platformer, although in the die a billion times vien. I used this as a travel game, it is a good way to kill a few minutes, doesn’t take much attention, no problems quitting the game quickly. ---
**Author:** ![zoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zoid/32/336_2.png) [@zoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zoid)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2013, 1:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommendations-for-very-casual-game/666140/13 "2013-08-14T01:28:15Z")
> [@Ethilrist](#): > > Plants vs. Zombies. Good one. More good puzzle type games are Osmos, Puzzle Dimensions, and Q.U.B.E. ---
**Author:** ![JackieLikesVariety](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackielikesvariety/32/296_2.png) [@JackieLikesVariety](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JackieLikesVariety)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2013, 2:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommendations-for-very-casual-game/666140/14 "2013-08-14T02:48:54Z")
[Jungle Jewels or Bubble Popp?](http://playhappyhour.com/) ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_Bravo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_bravo/32/493_2.png) [@Johnny\_Bravo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_Bravo)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2013, 3:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommendations-for-very-casual-game/666140/15 "2013-08-14T03:07:46Z")
Rogue Legacy. ---
**Author:** ![shijinn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/cc9497/32.png) [@shijinn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/shijinn)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2013, 3:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommendations-for-very-casual-game/666140/16 "2013-08-14T03:13:18Z")
one is an excellent turned-based tactics game and the other is the best Risk game i’ve seen. Hero Academy on ios or Steam - [http://www.robotentertainment.com/games/heroacademy](http://www.robotentertainment.com/games/heroacademy) Conquer Club on your browser - [http://www.conquerclub.com/public.php?mode=home&no\_cookies=](http://www.conquerclub.com/public.php?mode=home&no_cookies=) _“You can take your turn in 5 minutes with your morning cup of coffee or in between classes. A game typically lasts several days, but hardcore risk takers can play multiple games at once and stay up all night strategizing their next move.”_ ---
**Author:** ![Gary\_Robson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gary_robson/32/3448_2.png) [@Gary\_Robson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gary_Robson)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2013, 3:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommendations-for-very-casual-game/666140/17 "2013-08-14T03:21:51Z")
Not an arcade-style game, but what about Minecraft? Easy to start and stop, multiple play styles and levels of difficulty, creative… ---
**Author:** ![Jragon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e19b73/32.png) [@Jragon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jragon)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2013, 3:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommendations-for-very-casual-game/666140/18 "2013-08-14T03:25:29Z")
Oh yeah, there’s [Super Puzzle Platformer Deluxe](http://store.steampowered.com/app/238530). Which is hard as hell, but also uber-casual (it used to be a Flash Game!). ---
**Author:** ![Trepa\_Mayfield](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/edb3f5/32.png) [@Trepa\_Mayfield](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trepa_Mayfield)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2013, 4:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommendations-for-very-casual-game/666140/19 "2013-08-14T04:09:28Z")
The [Kingdom of Loathing](http://www.kingdomofloathing.com)! The casual-est, funny MMO that plays in a web browser. ---
**Author:** ![Athena](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/35a633/32.png) [@Athena](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Athena)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2013, 12:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommendations-for-very-casual-game/666140/20 "2013-08-14T12:48:51Z")
> [@Ethilrist](#): > > Plants vs. Zombies. > [@zoid](#): > > Good one. > > More good puzzle type games are Osmos, Puzzle Dimensions, and Q.U.B.E. Plants vs. Zombies is a tower defense, isn’t it? I’ve played a bunch of those, and just don’t really like them. > [@JackieLikesVariety](#): > > [Jungle Jewels or Bubble Popp?](http://playhappyhour.com/) > [@Johnny\_Bravo](#): > > Rogue Legacy. Will check them out! > [@shijinn](#): > > one is an excellent turned-based tactics game and the other is the best Risk game i’ve seen. > > Hero Academy on ios or Steam - [http://www.robotentertainment.com/games/heroacademy](http://www.robotentertainment.com/games/heroacademy) > > Conquer Club on your browser - [http://www.conquerclub.com/public.php?mode=home&no\_cookies=](http://www.conquerclub.com/public.php?mode=home&no_cookies=) > > _“You can take your turn in 5 minutes with your morning cup of coffee or in between classes. A game typically lasts several days, but hardcore risk takers can play multiple games at once and stay up all night strategizing their next move.”_ Hero Academy looks multi-player, I don’t see anything about a single-player mode. For what I want, multi-player is right out. Conquer Club looks cool, but a little too much concentration involved. I might pick it up for non-casual play. [quote=“Gary “Wombat” Robson, post:17, topic:666140”] Not an arcade-style game, but what about Minecraft? Easy to start and stop, multiple play styles and levels of difficulty, creative… [/QUOTE] For whatever reason, I’ve never been able to get Minecraft to work on my computer. Maybe I’ll try again. It just hangs. > [@Jragon](#): > > Oh yeah, there’s [Super Puzzle Platformer Deluxe](http://store.steampowered.com/app/238530). Which is hard as hell, but also uber-casual (it used to be a Flash Game!). This looks cool. We may have a winner here! > [@Trepa\_Mayfield](#): > > The [Kingdom of Loathing](http://www.kingdomofloathing.com)! The casual-est, funny MMO that plays in a web browser. Heh, I’ve played it before. Good suggestion, but looking for something new. Keep 'em coming! [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommendations-for-very-casual-game/666140.md?page=2)