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These days people are busy and can’t commit to long gaming sessions, so smaller experiences or those that have timed matches, allow users to get meaningful time out of games without having to sink hours at once into them. Multiplayer games are a godsend in this capacity, but there are plenty of single-player indie games that let the player control how long they want to spend in the game on any given day, preferably within 15 - 30 minutes.
8 Minecraft
Minecraft is one of the most played games globally and there’s a handful of reasons for that. The beauty of the game is that it can be whatever the player wants from it. Some are looking for a crafting survival game where they can explore the world and make the most out of what they discover. Others simply want a blank landscape to create and it also offers that. Minecraft is a game that can be marathoned for hours, but it can also provide a hop-in/hop-out playground where small tasks and goals can be accomplished in smaller play sessions.
7 Rocket League
Rocket League has seen sustained success thanks to its clever combination of soccer and driving video game experiences. These days the game is free-to-play, allowing anyone the ability to download the game and begin playing. Matches are timed and last five minutes, so people looking for shorter play sessions will find it welcoming as they can hop in for a few games and get to whatever they have planned. Sure ranked matches are an option, but Rocket League is also home to a variety of casual game modes that offer different scoring challenges such as a hockey or basketball variant of the traditional car soccer experience.
6 Dead By Daylight
Asymmetrical multiplayer seems to be the genre that horror games have attached themselves to in recent years, and among the crowd, Dead By Daylight has withstood the test of time. In this game, four survivors must work together to repair generators before a sole killer hunts down and kills them all.
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Though the game has its own cast of original characters, both survivors and killers, there is also a handful of licensed downloadable content including series such as Saw, Stranger Things, Silent Hill, Resident Evil, and more. Each match takes 10-to-20 minutes to complete regardless of which side you’re on and is a blast to play both single-player or with a group of friends.
5 Spelunky 2
Roguelikes as a genre are built for specifically timed play sessions as they revolve around players making “runs” that end upon death. Spelunky 2 is one of a few titles on this list that make the most out of the genre but don’t waste the player’s precious time. The game sees the player explore and spelunk procedurally generated levels with specific themes, and with each completed stage the difficulty increases and the stakes are raised.
Developer Mossmouth does a great job at including secrets and hidden strategies in the game that builds upon the various items and routes the player can choose to interact with. The first game in the series is also worth playing for those interested in getting the full experience.
4 Disc Room
Xbox Game Pass is often discussed as one of the best values in all of gaming, and Disc Room is a small indie title that was recently released on the subscription service that’s more than worth playing. Developed by four individuals, Disc Room is an action-puzzle game where the player navigates rooms of spinning blades, avoiding certain death in an attempt to unlock other rooms along the way. It’s the type of arcade-like game that anyone can pick up and play and doesn’t ask the player to commit to an exhaustive experience.
3 Rogue Legacy 2
Cellar Door Games is a name new to the Xbox platform as the first Rogue Legacy title only launched on consoles via PlayStation 4. The sequel to the beloved platforming roguelike launched on Xbox and managed to build on the legacy of the original title.
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Players take on the role of an heir that must vanquish the Estuaries ruling over the kingdom, and upon death assume the role of whoever comes next in their lineage. Each run in Rogue Legacy 2lasts as long as one can survive, but the game also has save states which is a welcome addition to a genre known for making the player complete their journey before ending a play session.
2 TMNT: Shredder’s Revenge
The Beat Em’ Up genre has been a part of video games since the Nintendo Entertainment System, and though it has remained niche, there is an audience that flocks to any new release the genre sees. Developer Dotemu released Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder’s Revenge in 2022, an homage to both the Beat Em’ Up genre and the classic cartoon featuring the four beloved turtles. Each level takes minutes at most to complete and with a roster of fan-favorite characters, the replay value is off the charts.
1 Fall Guys
Fall Guys was recently released on Xbox platforms as a free-to-play title, and so far it has done a wonderful job of building a dedicated community. The game is rather casual, despite it being focused on competitive rounds in which each player is trying to qualify and survive. Players enter a show where 60 contestants compete to try and survive and be the last one standing.
Each show lasts anywhere between 5-to-20 minutes depending on how good the player is and how far they make it. The game is full of vibrant and delightful designs that provide a comfortable juxtaposition to the chaos the actual gameplay encompasses.
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