I need another break! 5 more free games for short sessions
It’s always nice to have a break every now and then. Moreover, there’s hard evidence confirming that short breaks taken on a regular basis improve both productivity and well-being. As for the activity that distracts you from work/studying, it’s a purely personal preference. There are many options: a short walk, scrolling through the latest updates on social media, a trip to the kitchen for a cup of coffee, a couple dozen push-ups, or a quick session in your favorite game. We’ve already addressed the latter in “I need a break! 5 free games perfect for short sessions,” and since its appearance, that piece has been in the top-10 posts on this blog. This article, as the name implies, continues exploring the realm of video games that double as perfect short-term distractions, and gives you 5 more titles fitting the description.
1. Chicken Invaders
Chicken Invaders. Image from the Informer catalog
Chicken Invaders is probably older than some of our readers: the first version of this fast-paced, humor-packed shoot-em-up was released in 1999 by Konstantinos Prouskas, an indie developer from Greece. Today, it’s the longest running video game series made in that country.
The premise is quite simple: you get to fly a lone spacecraft defending Earth from waves of space-ready chickens wishing to invade our beautiful world. There’s literally nothing serious about this game, all of its aspects aim to make you laugh, from enemies (chicken, dressed-up and not), through loot (collectable drumsticks) to upgrades (nicely wrapped gift boxes).
Chicken Invaders has free and paid versions, the former somewhat abridged feature-wise (no multiplayer, no full-screen mode), the latter priced around $4 and serving a more immersive experience. If you’re looking for something mindless that still offers a challenge and some elements of competition, give Chicken Invaders a try.
2. Jewel Quest
Jewel Quest. Image from the Informer catalog
“Match 3” games – those where you have to align or somehow else bring together three similar items – are the definition of casual games perfect for short breaks. Though addictive and packed with features designed to keep you playing, they require little to no commitment, typically launch within seconds, and thus serve the desired distraction fix in the most convenient manner.
Jewel Quest is probably one of the best-known titles among the tile-matching puzzles. First released by iWin on October 29, 2004, the game was later ported to multiple platforms, including Mac, mobile, and consoles. Today, it delivers much needed not-so-mindless rest to millions upon millions of players all over the world.
The gameplay of Jewel Quest is simple yet engaging, with difficulty progressing from level to level, same as the in-game boosters and rewards. The fact that the game becomes more and more challenging as you advance is a good thing: when you use it for a break from work, a failed level (after half a dozen completed successfully) means it’s time to resume whatever you wanted a distraction from.
3. Air Assault
Air Assault.Image from the Informer catalog
If Chicken Invaders suggested above feels too wacky, try Air Assault. Essentially, it is a similar shoot-em-up, but in this title, you are controlling a gunship that is serious about taking on hordes of flying enemies. Add great graphics and a solid, energetic soundtrack to the mix, and you get the picture.
There are many implementations of the top-down view attacking aircraft arcade game concept. Looking up “air assault" online, you may even encounter a title released in 1993. The good thing about this type of games is that they remain perfectly playable and age very well. The game we are suggesting is not as old, so it’s pleasing to the eyes and offers more engaging gameplay.
Air Assault is free, and replayable if you want to take a closer look at the elaborate landscapes or improve your high score. Great choice for a five- to ten-minute break from work.
4. Deadly Race
Deadly Race. Image from the Informer catalog
Flying a chopper or a spacecraft is cool (even when you have to rip through hordes of space chickens), but driving a pumped-up car is sometimes even better, because this is the experience to which you can actually relate. Deadly Race, a fast-paced, adrenaline-fueled racing action game from Media Contact LLC, gives you just that, plus some machine gun shooting practice you won’t need in real life.
Deadly Race comes from a team that specializes in such titles, which means the mechanics of the game are verging on being perfect. The title is free, with the possible caveat being ads, which can be removed for a small fee. Another small payment (literally the cost of a cup of coffee in your favorite coffee shop) can unlock additional cars and tracks, if or when the core game stops feeling fresh.
Fast in all respects, Deadly Race is a great break-from-work option if some vehicular carnage is to your liking.
5. War Thunder
War Thunder. Image from the Informer catalog
Looking for an AAA title that is free to play and fits the bill of casual gaming? War Thunder is your choice, then. The game is legendary, no less: around since 2016, it has millions of players all over the world, bringing them together on battlefields for short skirmishes that can help you overcome the block in your work you’re struggling with.
War Thunder is unique in many ways; as opposed to some other titles that compete with it for the target audience, this game offers a massive selection of vehicles (planes, tanks, and more) from various eras and nations. Don’t get the impression that it requires a lot of commitment, though: joining a battle takes a minute, and the rounds rarely last longer than a dozen of minutes.
Of course, you can put on your commander’s hat and take progression through the ranks seriously (even upgrading to the optional paid premium account to speed things up), but that doesn’t mean this game will stop functioning as a means of distraction.
Stay tuned for the next installment of the I-need-a-break series!
