The Video Game Critic

I was playing Mario Kart Double Dash before bed, and it got me thinking this. A lot of times I'll have ten minutes before I have to leave for work, or 15 minutes before the game starts. Some games like Duck Hunt or Mario Kart come to mind when I don't have much time.

Obviously sports games usually take at least a half hour, so they're out. What are some other fun games to play when time is short?

Maybe a quick match on an online shooter like CoD. Disc Jam is fun and the matches only last a couple of minutes, unless both players are ridiculously good.

Diddy Kong Racing. Each race lasts between 1-2 minutes, leaving me with plenty of races before I have to go to work.

Realistic sports games take a half hour but arcade style sports games like Kings of the Beach (NES), Blades of Steel (NES), NBA Jam (Genesis/SNES/modern consoles), Wayne Grretzkys 3D Hockey (N64), and NFL Blitz (everything from N64 and on) are great for a match that will take under 15 minutes.

Herschie wrote:I was playing Mario Kart Double Dash before bed, and it got me thinking this. A lot of times I'll have ten minutes before I have to leave for work, or 15 minutes before the game starts. Some games like Duck Hunt or Mario Kart come to mind when I don't have much time.

Obviously sports games usually take at least a half hour, so they're out. What are some other fun games to play when time is short?

You can beat NES Marble Madness 2 or 3 times within 10 minutes.

Lots of levels for Knytt Stories (the best platform game) take about that long to get through, and they're distinctive and self-contained in a way that makes even the shortest ones satisfying.

Maboshi's Arcade on the Wii! Get it while you can though, who knows how long WiiWare will be around.

Geometry Wars

You can probably get 10 games in at first and then you'll eventually get good and maybe get in 1 or 2 games in 10 minutes.

Early 80's arcade game: Ms. Pac-Man, Mr. Do, Millipede, Dig-Dug, Stargate, Bagman, Tempest, Berzerk, Venture, Mario Bros., Reactor, Discs of Tron, Arabian, Dragon's Lair, or Cube Quest.

Tetris....