Games worth playing for people who don't have too much time to spend in front of a PC

[revani]

Title. I have about 4-5 hours a week to spend on video games. It used to be fun to frequent this place to see what's worth checking out, and it's getting harder to find the time for that too. But I want to believe the Codex is still full of pricks with high standards and good taste - at least by internet standards. Show me I'm not wrong.

What I'm looking to avoid:
- Long tutorials and lots of hand holding. I'm fine spending the time trying to figure things out (even w trial & error) as long as it feels rewarding. But I'm not gonna sit down and listen the game explain me something that I could have easily grasped myself.
- Intricate stories that take way too long to unwind. Let me be clear, I used to put games like PST, Kotor 2 and MotB in a padestal. They were my holy trinity when it comes to writing. But even those games are decent at best, compared to real literature (i.e. books). And I can't really enjoy such games these days, I'll forget most of the details because my next session will be 4 days later.
- Same goes for games where I have to build my character very carefully, to the level of autism (Underrail). They used to be fun, but if I'm going to spend 20 mins in the level up screen only to not remember what I'm going for the next time I play, what's the point?
- Any level of pretentiousness. Talking about designers who think they came up with some kind of genious idea (can be about writing, combat, whatever). A turd is a turd even if it smells different. Pillars of Eternity goes into this category. Pathfinder: Kingmaker is the opposite of it imo (but even a chapter of it is too fucking long to get through right now)
- All the other bullshit that's an insult to one's intelligence, not going into detail since codex is what it is.

So naturally I've been drawn to roguelites over the last few years. Near perfect games in what they're trying to do, like FTL and Slay the Spire. Against the Storm has been fun lately but it's getting too repetitive. Really don't care about the genre tho, as long as I can enjoy the game by spending a few hours a week. So I'm giving you a chance to shill your favorite game that fills my criteria. Go

also,

how's Colony Ship? I enjoyed AoD even though I was meh about its CYOA nature and all the teleporting. But these things actually work for me nowadays.

edit: come on mods, a 13 year old account shouldn't need approval to post here. I know people that age. happy new year btw

edit2: I'm stuck waiting for mod approval for my replies, but all the recommendations are appreciated.

edit3: I realize the question is too broad, but so are my tastes. Feel free to recommend whatever you love, I might call it shit but I won't judge you.

 

[Falksi]

Retro, modern, or both?

PC-only games, or are you fine with games from other systems which you can emulate?

 

[revani]

Retro, modern, or both?

PC-only games, or are you fine with games from other systems which you can emulate?

Both are fine. So is using an emulator

 

[Russia is over. The end.]

How about instead of playing, you spend 4-5 hours a week filling your backlog with stuff you may one day play, but never will? That's how we do it, what are you, special or something?

 

[laclongquan]

Valkyrie Chronicles.

It's turnbased tactics, with some story, VERY nice art style, and a forced 20 turn per battles (you can go beyond that with bad rating of that battle). So technically you can play very fast, one straight run through. Or you can reload many times per turn.

There's more sequels, but I can only vouch for first game. I wouldnt vouch for storyfag games these days since it could take longer to finish per session.

 

[Kev Inkline]

Just move into adventure games man, that's what I just realized happened to me.

Also Bester's suggestion is noteworthy.

A fun fact: revani means 'my cunt' in Finnish.

 

[Grampy_Bone]

Vampire survivors, soul survivors, Ziggurat 2, risk of rain returns, risk of rain 2, or any game in the Ys series.

 

[__scribbles__]

Any of the classic Looking Glass or Looking Glass-adjacent games - Deus Ex, Thief, System Shock 1/2, etc. Intuitive and easy-to-learn stuff that starts fast and aren't very serious or pretentious.

They're also not ridiculously long, ranging pretty consistently from around 15-25 hours to complete.

 

[Gilius Thunderhead]

Tell your boss you need more time to play games.

 

[Halfling Rodeo]

It depends what you're looking for. You could play through a Halo game in 2 weeks or you could grind unlocks in Hades in the same time. Are you looking for an all in game or a skinner box to waste a few hours on until you lose interest? How long are you actual gaming sessions? Monster hunter is similar to a rogue like but if you only play for 10 minutes you will struggle to finish a single fight.

Paint us a picture of your gaming style.

 

[Lagole Gon]

- Half-sword demo is free and fun (the janky type of fun) for 2-3 evenings.
- Tiny Barbarian DX is for 5$ right now. Neat indie platformer.
- If you like roguelites and are tempted by World of Horror... Wait for a major sale. It's fun for 2-3 evenings, but embarrassingly barebones once you figure out how it works. Charming, but not for the full price.
- Just replay Dark Messiah.

 

[Blutwurstritter]

Everspace 1 and Synthetik 1 are good action games with rogue like elements and suited for short sessions with long pauses in between. I like them for the quick action and that they don't require too much concentration or me remembering what the fuck I was doing the last time that I started them up. They also have a good difficulty level, very little down time, and you can set your own pace.

 

[Late Bloomer]

Kenshi
Moon Ring
Satisfactory
Halls of Torment
Chronicon
Salt 2
The Planet Crafter
Medieval Dynasty
Soulash 2
Wildermyth
Gordian Quest
Legendary Creatures 2
Deep Rock Galactic
Lunacid
Core Keeper
Intergalactic Fishing

 

[revani]

How about instead of playing, you spend 4-5 hours a week filling your backlog with stuff you may one day play, but never will? That's how we do it, what are you, special or something?

I know at least half of that time you spend complaining about how shitty are the ones you haven't played. But maybe that's more fun. Maybe I'll become a Codexer this year, destroyer of popemole.

Valkyrie Chronicles.

I actually bought years ago after hearing about it here, couldn't get myself to start because of how anime it is. I'll keep it in mind

Any of the classic Looking Glass or Looking Glass-adjacent games - Deus Ex, Thief, System Shock 1/2, etc.

Love em. Never played any fan missions tho. I think it's time

A fun fact: revani means 'my cunt' in Finnish.

It's a Turkish dessert. And they say Ural-Altaic languages are not that close. I bet your cunt is tastier tho

Vampire survivors

This one was decent fun, will check the others


Thanks for the suggestions boys

 

[El Presidente]

I'll forget most of the details because my next session will be 4 days later.

Yeah I feel you. Because of that I'd advise against "single continuous story/flow from beginning to end" types of games and lean more towards games with some kind of established division. Level-based games (platformers, boomer shooters), puzzle games divided by stages (Zachtronics stuff, Picross/Sudoku types of games, other things like Poly Bridge), run-based games (roguelikes and roguelites), PVE card battlers, and games that do have story campaigns but are divided by missions, like the Myth games, Commandos, etc.

Best tip I'd give you is this: go to the Steam store page of a game that perfectly fits what you're looking for, check its tags here:

Click the tags you like the most, scroll down until you get to this part with these tabs and sort by Top Rated:

I've discovered many great games using this feature. In fact this is how I discovered Against the Storm.

 

[Butter]

The Legends of Amberland games are fast and easy to get into. The 2nd game just released a month ago and it's quite good. You've probably already played Dungeon Rats if you're a fan of AoD, but if not, that should be a priority.

 

[revani]

Fuck man it's a pain wait for mod approval on every post. This VD style of mass quote&reply is really not my thing.

It depends what you're looking for. You could play through a Halo game in 2 weeks or you could grind unlocks in Hades in the same time. Are you looking for an all in game or a skinner box to waste a few hours on until you lose interest? How long are you actual gaming sessions? Monster hunter is similar to a rogue like but if you only play for 10 minutes you will struggle to finish a single fight.

Paint us a picture of your gaming style.

It's been rogue likes lately, with 2 hours a day at max. I keep an open mind. Don't really want to restrict people with their suggestions here tho, feel free to recommend anything you're passionate about. I have the dosh and I don't mind dropping something I don't like and then complaining about it here.

 

[std::namespace]

i dont remember where i was yesterday

 

[std::namespace]

nothing to despair about, my butt is not sore, hopefully no aids

 

[POOPERSCOOPER]

Any of the classic Looking Glass or Looking Glass-adjacent games - Deus Ex, Thief, System Shock 1/2, etc. Intuitive and easy-to-learn stuff that starts fast and aren't very serious or pretentious.

They're also not ridiculously long, ranging pretty consistently from around 15-25 hours to complete.

I feel like this is the best option, sounds like OP wants depth but not autism level depth. The immersive Sim stuff is good for dropping in without have to put too much mental thought up front but still have some depth if you want to go deeper but at a slower pace. Newer stuff like Dishonored 1 & 2, Prey and maybe like the System Shock remake I hear are good.

 

[gabel]

There a literally hundreds, if not thousands, of games that qualify if you include older (80s+) titles.

 

[Late Bloomer]

There a literally hundreds, if not thousands, of games that qualify if you include older (80s+) titles.

Have a few to recommend?

 

[gabel]

The question is way too broad to recommed specific games tbh (we're in General Gaming).
Shmups, Jump'n'runs, dozens of Amiga titles worth playing in short bursts, all for free, easier than ever.

 

[Halfling Rodeo]

Any of the classic Looking Glass or Looking Glass-adjacent games - Deus Ex, Thief, System Shock 1/2, etc. Intuitive and easy-to-learn stuff that starts fast and aren't very serious or pretentious.

They're also not ridiculously long, ranging pretty consistently from around 15-25 hours to complete.

I feel like this is the best option, sounds like OP wants depth but not autism level depth. The immersive Sim stuff is good for dropping in without have to put too much mental thought up front but still have some depth if you want to go deeper but at a slower pace. Newer stuff like Dishonored 1 & 2, Prey and maybe like the System Shock remake I hear are good.

If you're limited on time those kind of games can be quite difficult to pick up and play. You don't want to stop half way through a 'dungeon' but you have to stop playing. Then you're picking it up mid-dungeon and you may have forgot which path you were planning to take or even your objectives. Immersive sims benefit from having a long playing session where you can get stuck into quests without taking a serious break or you end up with a huge quest log and no idea what you need to do next.

 

[Falksi]

Retro, modern, or both?

PC-only games, or are you fine with games from other systems which you can emulate?

Both are fine. So is using an emulator

Drop into the SEGA Megadrive library chap. Streets of Rage 1-3, Hellfire, Landstalker, the Shinobi games, Golden Axe series, Shining Force series etc. I started revisiting it when I first signed up here and it threw gem after gem after gem at me. Ideal for nights when you only have 1-2 hours to spare and want to squeeze something in between other stuff.