Gaming for the time poor (Parents)

[Hamus]

I tried Monster Hunter Rise on gamepass yesterday.

Tutorial heavy running around before I even got to go into a mission instance. 

This clearly isn't the game for me.

 

I fall back on the odd game of Pro Evo, because I can tweak the squad, have a game, smash a team, and see progress and some easy gaming in about 30 minutes or so.

 

What else could I try here? I like the whole having a squad thing so Xcom is the most obvious similar type game - I clocked it ages ago so I'd like something new. Phoenix point perhaps, how does that hold up?

 

Any other recommendations would be gratefully received - I want something I can relax to that isn't too taxing!

[Jamie John]

Get a Steam Deck and then you can stream Game Pass games. Or, get a Switch and you can play the Switch version of MH Rise. That's how I played it and it was excellent.

[Jamie John]

Glib replies aside, the Monster Hunter games are notoriously impenetrable at first, with dozens of systems all nested within each other. It is worth unpicking it all, because once you figure it out it's very, very good and the way it's structured will give you the 'pick up and play for 30 mins' slice of gaming that you're looking for.

 

If you're looking for a tactical, turn-based game then there are lots of recent games that scratch that itch: Marvel's Midnight Suns is essentially XCOM but with Marvel characters, from what I understand; Project Triangle Strategy on the Switch is more Final Fantasy Tactics-flavoured (see @Wiper's enthusiastic write-up in the pinned Games of the Year thread); and the new Fire Emblem game came out literally two days ago and has been well-received.

 

What consoles do you have? I've found that having a couple of hand-held systems has allowed me to get some gaming in while still looking after my son, making dinner, etc. Thankfully, hand-held gaming is the best it's ever been right now, too. You might want to check out emulating older games, which typically aren't as complicated as modern games and are therefore easier to pick up and put down.

[Hamus]

Xbox X, Switch, PS4 Pro. Portability isn't the issue for me, I actually don't get much time outside of work/childcare.

 

I do get marvel snap time at the moment, but that's usually reserved 

 

The ideal for me is an Xbox game. I have gamepass but I'm not bothered if I have to buy it.

I bought Elden Ring foolishly, and I've barely played it.

 

Something I can jostle along with and see progression and get some quick sessions in.

 

[thesnwmn]

1 hour ago, Jamie John said:

Get a Steam Deck and then you can stream Game Pass games. Or, get a Switch and you can play the Switch version of MH Rise. That's how I played it and it was excellent.

 

I'd argue that XCloud on Steam Deck is a terrible setup for interruptible sessions. Whilst it removes install times and gives you access to a lot of stuff it eliminates the primary important feature of modern consoles... quick resume.

 

Regardless of playing something with short levels that is pick up and playable in short bursts you need quick resume so you can stop at the drop of a hat and lose no progress.

 

Local Steam Deck games (be they Steam or non-Steam), or any of the current consoles are perfect for this (maybe XBox is best due to its multi-game resume support).

[thesnwmn]

For specific recommendations.

 

Forza Horizon X. Dip in and drive around. You can make this as hard or easy as you want. Almost an endless number of races scattered over the map.

 

Patrick's Parabox. Maybe a bit mentally taxing but an excellent small level puzzle game you can chip away at. No level is probably more than 20 odd moves but it can be a real challenge. I didn't find the main path though the game all that bad outside of a few puzzles but there's lots of extra stuff to do off the main track.

[fat flatulent git]

Easy Come Easy Golf.  Burn through a round in no time at all.  If golf games are your thing, this one is brilliant.  In Switch - not sure if it’s on other consoles.

[Popo]

1 hour ago, Jamie John said:

I've found that having a couple of hand-held systems has allowed me to get some gaming in while still looking after my son, making dinner, etc.

The handheld form factor has been by far the best way to play games in short bursts for me over the past few years. Just today I was playing Fire Emblem Awakening on 3DS; paused my session to cook dinner; picked up again for ten minutes; stopped again because the new puppy needed some play time; finished my session a short while later. 
 

It’s all so immediate, and doesn’t require access to the TV, which might be used by my partner at any point during my stop-start play session. 
 

Steam Deck is similarly well suited, and is very much the exciting platform of the moment

 

Edit - worth acknowledging that I’m rarely playing story-led AAA fare when I’m playing this way; be it Fire Emblem on 3DS, Pokémon on Switch or The Sexy Brutale on Deck, they’re typically games that require little long-term commitment to their plot or mechanics. Conversely, I’m playing Callisto Protocol on PS5 and have gone over a week between hour + sessions because they can be quite hard to fit in, and to return to after a period away. 

[bradigor]

As a handheld gamer I've not had many issues. Always have something to hand 

[JPL]

Cyberpunk, assuming your Xbox is a Series X and not a One X. You could easily dip in, do a couple of gigs, side quests or even the odd main mission in half an hour and doing it that way, it’d last you all year!

[Gabe]

I find that the issue is not only being time poor, but so, so many games are awfully paced, making that time spent seem so much worse. Even plenty of short-ish games suffer from this. Then factor in varying degrees of padding and it makes it really hard to make it feel like you've made any progress from those little 30-minute sessions, which can be pretty dispiriting and help hasten a decision to abandon.

 

It's of course a massive issue with RPGs, but no genres are immune. To your original question @Hamus, and specifically Phoenix Point, I abandoned that because the XCom template is not particularly respectful of your time. The fact you have to crawl around maps looking for that last enemy can really drag out missions and it wore me down quite quickly. If you really do only have 30-minutes here or there and are okay with that meaning you will often not finish a single map, then go for it, otherwise I'd steer clear - XCom Chroma Squad might be a much better fit with it's smaller focus and leaner maps.

[ImmaculateClump]

Shmups!
They are gaming distilled to it's purest form. All the chaff chucked out so that only the essential elements remain.

Shmups are a raw, unfiltered test of skill and endurance.
No waiting around in lobbies. No huge updates to download. No cunts to babysit. They are ultra respectful of your time.

 

You sit down, you turn them on, they give you a concentrated gaming fix for 20 to 30 blissful, adrenaline fuelled minutes, and then they roll over, have a cig and let you get on with the rest of your day.

If something comes up you can drop out instantly and lose nothing.

 

Try Blue Wish Resurrection Plus, free game - https://xxgameroom.itch.io/blue-wish-resurrection-plus

 

Or the Gunvein demo - https://store.steampowered.com/app/2025840/Gunvein/

 

SHMUPS! - https://streamable.com/029kur

[Strafe]

21 minutes ago, ImmaculateClump said:

Shmups!
They are gaming distilled to it's purest form. All the chaff chucked out so that only the essential elements remain.

Shmups are a raw, unfiltered test of skill and endurance.
No waiting around in lobbies. No huge updates to download. No cunts to babysit. They are ultra respectful of your time.

 

You sit down, you turn them on, they give you a concentrated gaming fix for 20 to 30 blissful, adrenaline fuelled minutes, and then they roll over, have a cig and let you get on with the rest of your day.

If something comes up you can drop out instantly and lose nothing.

 

Try Blue Wish Resurrection Plus, free game - https://xxgameroom.itch.io/blue-wish-resurrection-plus

 

Or the Gunvein demo - https://store.steampowered.com/app/2025840/Gunvein/

 

SHMUPS! - https://streamable.com/029kur

I’m not a shmup fan myself but this a good take. Suggesting RPG’s or tactics games that are frontloaded with 5 hours worth of tutorials to their very in-depth systems that you’ll then have to remember despite only playing for 20 minutes a day are bonkers. Exploring huge open worlds when the clock’s ticking? Right.

[Sarlaccfood]

Yeah schumps is a good shout. Although most being bollock-hard might not give you a good sense of progression, especially when you have to start from scratch after game over. 

In the same vein but probably slightly easier i’d say platformers. Celeste, Mario, Ori…stuff like that. 

 

[Sarlaccfood]

Sorry the correct answer is Hades actually isn’t it?

[Naysonymous]

That or Vampire Survivors.  

[ScouserInExile]

2 hours ago, Naysonymous said:

That or Vampire Survivors.  

Exactly this. Each game is 30 minutes, tops, and is timed, so actually 30 minutes not 30 minutes or so. Plus, even though you're essentially starting from scratch each game, there's constant progression and you unlock something new each time you play. And starring from scratch means that you don't have to remember where you were up to if you have a bit of time away from it. Which is always my problem I have with RPGs and Xcom or the like...

[Garwoofoo]

11 hours ago, Jamie John said:

If you're looking for a tactical, turn-based game then there are lots of recent games that scratch that itch: Marvel's Midnight Suns is essentially XCOM but with Marvel characters, from what I understand

 

While I like Midnight Suns a lot, it really isn't one for pick-up/put-down gaming - it's story-heavy and a lot of the game is wandering around talking to people between missions, which means you can easily feel you've achieved nothing in a short play session. Also, it commits the cardinal sin of having unpausable cutscenes (that even keep running in the background if you exit to the dash!) which can be hugely frustrating if you need to put it down at short notice.

[Stanley]

Vampire Survivors is only 30 mins 

 

I lost an entire morning last week after deciding to have just one 30 minute session 

[Corranga]

 

I guess a lot of us have this issue, my gaming time also battles with sim racing which takes up most of my spare time (and is 1 answer to your question, but obviously takes a certain interest).

 

Other than that, the approachable nature of the Switch helps a lot, the sleep mode basically giving any game an immediate long term pause mode, so even if you don't finish a level, it'll be back where you left it in seconds the following day.  Mario Rabbids games.  I 100% the new one in 30-60 minute sessions over a couple of months.  Relatively easy, but make you think, and satisfying when you chain together a turn for maximum damage.

The back catalogue is huge, there's plenty of first party games and Nintendo do pick up and play perhaps better than anyone else these days.

 

All that said, the last time a thread like this came up, I posted about Xenoblade Chronicles (2 and X), and Yakuza, neither short, and both with a bit of a tutorial curve, yet also both gripping enough that I was happy to play in 30-60 minute chunks.  Yakuza's short missions worked well for that (though I did have the odd "nothing but a cut scene" night!), Xenoblade meant I'd have nights dedicated to perhaps a blade quest, or a side quest, or a large battle, or exploring, but rarely more than 1 of those!

 

[Boothjan]

Streets of Rage 4 or TMNT: Shredder's Revenge - easy 10 minute blasts through each level, dead easy to pick up and play

[johnj]

I started using steam link on my phone recently with an xbox one controller, which worked nicely for a session on the Stanley parable while daughter was sleeping. 

[Hamus]

Thanks all especially @Gabe

 

Handheld doesn't make a difference I just don't have the time.

 

Are there any schmups that have progression?

Vampire survivors is a good shout - I have dipped into it on steam and Xbox. Thing is...

 

I found the original steam version harder out of the gate. You'd die quick and need to get good. Enjoyable! Short cycle time.

The Xbox version has clearly gathered 'feedback' from players and it starts off easy. You get miles into it and I'd be a bit bored.

Give me back my hard deaths!

 

I'd love a schmup/action game with a little team, is there not an action Xcom where I can do say 5-10 minute raids and see progression as the best door kickers in the game?

[thesnwmn]

1 minute ago, Hamus said:

 

I'd love a schmup/action game with a little team, is there not an action Xcom where I can do say 5-10 minute raids and see progression as the best door kickers in the game?

 

In to the Breach

Steamworld Heist

[Qazimod]

Broforce and Super Time Force are both classic run-and-gun games where you end up controlling or recruiting a variety of characters.  

[Mogster]

As a new parent myself, the Steam Deck has been very handy to have around. Portability is obviously a big help, but quick resume is also a godsend.

 

As for quick tactics games, I haven't played it but Into The Breach is meant to have quick, small scale (well, large scale but low unit count) battles. It's maybe more puzzely than Xcom but might scratch that itch.

 

This is completely not what you're asking for, but I've been enjoying the odd visual novel recently and Coffee Talk is the perfect visual novel for the short of time. It's only about four hours long, according to HLTB, and so far each chapter has only lasted a few minutes. It's short and snappy with interesting, well written characters, and mixing drinks for them all is oddly engaging.

[Ryan]

Switch/SteamDeck, SRPGs are the best. Anything you can just pause with no issue. Advance Wars under emulation on SteamDeck and Tactics Ogre: Reborn are revelations for me. I did clear most of MH:R on Switch somehow, guess the kids were going to bed?

[Siri]

I'm no parent, but I've played the following in bursts during half hour lunch breaks on the deck:

 

- Tetris. 150 Line Marathon can be done in about 10-12 mins. Can either be Tetris Effect or Puyo Puyo Tetris.

- BallisticNG. Campaign's broken up into single races.

- Abzu. Lovely game, every area fitted in a lunch break over the week.

- Murder By Numbers. Picross breaks my brainlet, but I'd do a puzzle and some interrogation every time.

- Subsurface Circular. Lovely investigation game.

- Later Alligator. same thing.

- Outrun 2006. Couple of arcade runs or Coast 2 Coast mode missions.

- Tekken 7. Just play endless Treasure Battle.

- Virtua Fighter 5 FS. endless.. whatever the ghost battle is called.

- Tiny Rogues. My current favourite for a spare 10 minutes. Twin Stick roguelike shooter with loot and perk builds. Banging game.

[Fry Crayola]

Reading the opening post, I'm not sure if @Hamus is restricted to 30 minutes of gaming at most, or if it's just a remark about the convenience of PES.

 

I don't know how many kids you have or how old they are, but what I find works for me is having an evening a week that's for me (and likewise, my partner could do the same another night). That gives me a nice block of time where I can make progress in something meatier, rather than relying on grabbing short chunks here and there. It doesn't mean the games have to be any less relaxing. There's a lot to be said for spending a couple of hours just pootling around in a Euro Truck, for example.

 

A large part of that is dictated by my personality, I'm quite introverted so I need that alone time just to recharge.

[gossi the dog]

Is the free to play PES actually good now? Or are you playing an older version?