At one end of the gaming spectrum, you have huge, sprawling, complex releases such as the smash-hit Elden Ring, in which players can immerse themselves for hours at a time. At the other end, you have casual games, most typically played on mobile, which players can dip into and out of when they have a few minutes.
It is the case that some players do spend hours engrossed in so-called casual games, but the advent of this type of simple, easily accessible game has had a big impact on the gaming industry as a whole. It has encouraged a whole new demographic and changed the way that many people play games. You don’t need a console or expensive PC setup to play casual games. They are generally cheap, often free, and sometimes follow ‘freemium’ models of micropayments for in-game purchases and upgrades. They can also be easily played during the ‘dead time’ of your normal day – whether you’re commuting, on a break from work, or even queuing up at the post office.
Another type of game that is great for filling that ‘dead time’ is the online casino. If you want to make the most of any small amount of time you have and maximize your winnings, it makes sense to use a casino bonus tool to find free spins, the highest possible match bonus, and much more. There’s nothing like a little win in your free time – and all the better if it comes from a bonus you’ve found.
Here are some games you can try whenever you have some time to yourself.
Candy Crush Saga
Candy Crush Saga pretty much paved the way for a new generation of mobile games. It doesn’t have quite the following it had at its peak, with 273 million active users in 2020 compared to 327 million back in 2015. That’s a lot of people still matching those slot machine-style, candy-based tiles though, and the gameplay remains compelling.
Wordle
From a simple game developed by Welsh software engineer Josh Wardle (the title is a play on his name), Wordle has become a worldwide phenomenon after first going viral and then being picked up by the New York Times. It’s simple but fun, giving you six goes and color-based clues to find the right five-letter word.
Framed
The success of Wordle has spawned a lot of ‘daily play’ successors, including Framed, which gives movie buffs six guesses to identify a film based on a single frame. Naturally, you can share your results on Twitter, essentially allowing you to compete with others.
Solitairica
If Solitaire alone doesn’t press the right buttons, Solitairica adds a fresh spin on the classic single-player card game, bringing in RPG elements that let you use a variety of magical items and powerful spells to battle your way through a horde of ever-changing enemies.
Animal Crossing: Pocket Camp
Animal Crossing is another phenomenon, and this is a free-to-play version that’s perfect for your smartphone. Dip in whenever you have a spare minute to fish, catch bugs, customize your campsite, and basically take a little time to unwind.