Chess.com's daily puzzles allow you to improve your game in just five minutes
Packing a little enjoyment into your lunch break is important, whether it’s getting outside for a walk, reading a few pages of a great book, or just sitting down for five minutes and playing a game. A bit of ‘you time’ is essential. If you’re the kind of person who tends to fall into the latter category, then we’ve curated this list especially for you. All of these games can be properly enjoyed in five minutes or less but also stand up to the challenge of a full hour’s lunch break. Ready to get gaming? Let’s go.
2048 (Mobile App)
First up is a mobile game that couldn’t be simpler. Designed by Gabriele Cirulli back in 2014, this game shot to fame thanks to its straightforward gameplay, but fiendishly difficult later levels. All you have to do is slide tiles across a grid, making them collide and combine with the tiles that match them. You start off with tiles of either 2 or 4, and smash them together to make tiles of 4 or 8 respectively. As you progress the tiles get bigger and bigger, with 2048 being widely accepted as a challenging tile to make it to. Whilst you can make it surprisingly far through the game in five minutes, it’s exactly the kind of title that you won’t want to put down.
Dr Toonz (PC/Mobile)
If you’re a fan of Reactoonz then you’ll love Dr Toonz, available at PokerStars Casino online. This game invites you inside a mad scientist’s alien laboratory and asks you to spin the reels. It was developed by Play’n GO and released back in 2021.
It has a stunning colourful grid and lots of weird and wonderful features to keep things interesting. You can trigger free spins, multipliers and wilds, each bringing their own twist to the game.
Tiny Ninjas Universe (Boardgame)
We’re a big fan of the original Tiny Ninjas game, but the creator is on a campaign to create a second edition. If you’ve never played before then we’d urge you to buy a copy! The game comes in a small (portable) box, packed with dice and cards. You’ll use these to battle two ninjas together losing health points each turn. Once one of the ninjas has lost all of its points, the game is won. As you move through the levels, tactical elements get more difficult. The next edition already has a huge amount of support on Kickstarter, so we can’t wait to see it hit shelves soon.
Oddmar (Mobile/Nintendo Switch)
Our next pic is a cute game that was originally released for mobile in 2018, but was such a hit that a version for Nintendo Switch was released too.
This game lets you become a lonely Viking, who just wants to be accepted by the local villagers. In order to do this he must battle his way through 24 different levels. They increase in difficulty, but all are puzzles based around physics. The graphics really set this game apart from others in this category. The landscapes are stunning, lush forests, snowcapped mountains and even deep dark caves. There’s a stunning soundtrack too! While you won’t be completing the whole game in five minutes, you can certainly complete some of the earlier levels in this time.
Chess (PC/Mobile/Boardgame)
Chess is our final option, and Chess.com is the website/mobile app that we think offers the most bang for your buck (unless you prefer a traditional board of course). As one of the longest standing players in the chess industry, Chess.com offers a pretty comprehensive platform. You’ll be able to play online against opponents from all over the world, who importantly, are matched to your own ability. You can also play various different chess tournaments in all kinds of different modes. For those who prefer solo learning, there are daily challenges as well as AI assisted levels to help you reach new heights with your chess game.
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