Games to play when bored

The best games to play when bored are the ones you can start in one tap and stop without losing anything: a round of Snake, a quick Minesweeper board, a word search or a sliding puzzle. Below are twelve picks sorted by how much time you actually have, from a two-minute wait to a proper lunch break. Every one is free, runs in your browser and needs no download or account. If you only try one, start with the free Snake game: a single round rarely lasts longer than a few minutes.

Why short games are the best games to play when bored

A short game has a clear start and a clear end, which is exactly what scrolling lacks. Ten minutes on a feed tends to turn into forty; a round of Snake is over when it's over. All of these games also save your best score or time in your browser, so you've always got a small target to beat next time, and nothing is sent anywhere.

If you have 2 minutes

1. Snake

Eat apples, grow longer, don't crash. A round is often over in a minute or two, and the restart is instant. Pick Slow if you're on a phone and want something relaxing, or Fast if you want a jolt. Our Snake game tips will add a few points to your best.

2. Tic-Tac-Toe

A game takes under a minute. Play the computer on Unbeatable and try to hold it to a draw, which is harder than it sounds the first few times. If someone's with you, switch to Two players and pass the phone. Our tic-tac-toe strategy shows how never to lose.

3. Memory Game with 12 cards

Turn over cards two at a time and match the pairs. With 12 cards, a round takes a minute or so. Try to finish in as few moves as possible; your fewest moves for each size is saved.

If you have 5 minutes

4. Minesweeper (Beginner)

A 9 × 9 board with 10 mines is a perfect five-minute puzzle. Your first click is always safe, so you can dive straight in. Read our Minesweeper guide if the numbers are a mystery.

5. Word Search (Easy)

Eight words hidden across and down in a 10 × 10 grid, on topics like animals, food or sports. It's calm, quiet and a good reset between tasks. Our word search tips explain the rare-letter trick that speeds up your search.

6. Sliding puzzle (3 × 3)

Slide eight tiles back into order. A 3 × 3 board takes a few minutes once you know the method; the 4 × 4 "15 puzzle" takes longer. See how to solve a sliding puzzle.

7. Hangman

Guess the word one letter at a time before you run out of six lives. Pick a topic or Any topic, and see how long you can keep your winning streak going.

8. Brick Breaker

Bounce the ball, break the bricks. One level is a quick burst of action, and the five layouts get harder as you go.

If you have 15 minutes or more

9. Solitaire

The classic. A game of Klondike takes about ten minutes, and the Hint and Undo buttons keep it relaxed. New to it? Start with how to play Solitaire.

10. Sudoku

An Easy puzzle fits a coffee break; Hard and Expert can fill a lunch hour. Notes, hints and undo are built in. The beginner Sudoku guide gets you started.

11. Four in a Row

Drop discs, line up four. Against the computer on Hard it's a real fight, and a single game takes a few minutes, so it's easy to play "best of five".

12. Reversi

Flip your opponent's discs by trapping them between yours. A game against the computer takes ten minutes or so, and the strategy is deeper than it looks.

Quick picks at a glance

Time you have	Best picks	Mood
2 minutes	Snake, Tic-Tac-Toe, Memory Game (12 cards)	Quick and light
5 minutes	Minesweeper, Word Search, Sliding Puzzle, Hangman, Brick Breaker	Focused but short
15+ minutes	Solitaire, Sudoku, Four in a Row, Reversi	Calm and thoughtful
With a friend	Tic-Tac-Toe, Four in a Row, Reversi (Two players)	Pass the device

A few tips for better breaks

• Set a limit before you start, such as "three rounds". Short games make that easy to keep.
• Pick the opposite of what you were doing. After reading, try Snake; after a busy meeting, try Word Search.
• Pause properly. Snake and Brick Breaker pause themselves if you switch tabs, so you won't lose a run to a notification.
• Pair games with a work timer. The Pomodoro technique builds in five-minute breaks that suit any game on this list.

All of these, and more, are in the games collection. For the full list of classics, see our roundup of free browser games with no download.

Start with Snake

Two minutes to spare? Press Start on the free Snake game and see if you can beat your best before the kettle boils. No download, no sign-up, nothing to install.